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1.0 


I.I 


■^  Ilia 


IIIM 

12.2 


\u    itt    11 2.0 


1.8 


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Photographic 

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26X 


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v/|       I       I       I       I       I       I       I       I       I       I 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


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ills 
du 

dif  (  jT 
jne 
lage 


The  copy  fiimad  hera  has  baan  raproducad  thank* 
to  tha  ganarosity  of. 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

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Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

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filmage. 

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d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
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originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ♦-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


ata 


ilure, 
A 


1 


2X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

mm 


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m.'  •»■ 


"'to    the    RESrUF,  !'    SHOUTED    TFIE    HOYS."' 


THE  GOLD-HUNTERS 

OF   ALASKA 


BT 


WILLIS  BOYD  ALLEN 

AUTHOR  OF  "  PINE  CONES,"  "  THE  NORTHERN  CK088," 
•  SILVER  KAGS,"  "  KELP,"  ETC. 


FULLY   ILLUSTRATED 


BOSTON 
ESTES    AND    LAURIAT 

IMini.lSHF.RS 


/\)^Vr^<^ 


^w 


V I 


OOPYRIOHT,  1889, 

By  ESTES  St  LAURIAT. 


I 


^•.J 


e:7 
3 


m 


TO  MY  COUSIN, 

WITHOUT  WHOSE   HELP  THE  DUTTONS   NEVKK   WOULD 

HAVE  GONE  TO  ALASKA, 

I  AM  HEARTILY  GLAD  TO  DEDICATE  THIS 

STORY  OF  THEIR  ADVENTURES. 


r^fi'j^y^ 


! , 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAOK 

I.     A  Remarkable  Letteu 13 

11.     Treed  by  a  Moose 25 

III.  Ted's  Prickly  Bear o9 

IV.  Ax  Unseex  Enemy 48 

V.     Raft-Buildino G4 

VI.     Through  the  Enemy's  Lines 8(5 

VII.     Out  of  the  Frying-pan 81) 

VIII.     A  Startling  Discovery 102 

IX.    From  Victoria  to  Sitka .  113 

X.    Day  and  Night  in  Alaska 119 

XL     The  Chilkoot  Pass 123 

XII.     An  Escape,  and  a  Xew  Enemy 140 

XIII.  Nat's  Shaggy  Pup 148 

XIV.  To  the  Rescue! 164 

XV.     Under  the  Earth 1()9 

XVI.     A  Mystery  Explained 184 

XVII.     A  Reunion 199 

XVIII.     A  Lesson  in  Bridge-Making 205 

XIX.     Captured  by  Brown  Bears 216 

XX.     Halt! 230 

XXI.     Winter-Quarters 239 

XXII.    Peeschee's  Marvellous  Story 261 

9 


'^'m^irmmF 


"'mt'.'     I* 


r^-T^p^^l-i    iiW"* 


^»««™»"WW" 


10 


CONTENTS. 


niAl'TKR 

XXI II.  Christmas  in  Alaska 

XX J  V.  Thk  Lfkutenant's  Stouy  C 

XXA'.  tSxoWKi)  vv     .... 

XXVI.  Pekschkk's  Mai-  A(iAiN 

XXVll.  FoK  LiFK  OK  Dkatii    . 

XXVllI.  WOLK  ACAINST  MaX      . 

XXIX.  OVEK  THK  IC'K        .       .       . 

XXX.  CONCLUSIOX      .... 


ONCLIDK 


PAt;i; 

201 
28(» 
298 
314 
311) 
328 
■  33G 
339 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PACiH 
"  '  To    THE    RESCUE  !  '     SIIOl'TEI)    THE    HOYS  "     .      .       ,       .       FrOVtitiftO'i'i' 

Peeschee's  Map 23 

"It  was  evident  that  affaius  weke  keaching  a  crisis"  35 

"  We  started  across  the  lake  " 53 

Uphill  AVork 57 

"I  shouldered  the  canoe" 60 

"John  was  putting  the  last  touches  on" 62 

"  Still  on  the  raft  rushed  " 83 

Ayan  Moose  Arrow 90 

"The  royal  barge  brought  up  the  rear" 93 

Chilkat  Canoe 103 

"The  Indians  were  gambling  in  dead  earnest"    .     .    .  109 

Sitka,  Alaska 115 

Looking  up  the  Yukon 137 

Chilkat  Bracelet 140 

"A  Grizzly  Cub,     'Drop  it,  Nat!'" 159 

"It  was  no  ordinary  sight" 179 

"He  was  studying  the  map" 195 

Peeschee's  Map ,    .  208 

Building  the  Bridge ,    .    .     .    ,  211 

"I  come  from  the  great  medicine  man" 223 

A  Council  of  War 233 

"A  dish  of  venison  is  smoking  on  the  table"  ....  253 

"Within    a    rod    of   the  hut   were   a   dozen   shadowy 

forms  " 309 

There  was  a  sharp  report,  and  with  one  leap  she  fell,  326 

11 


THE    RED   MOUNTAIN 
OF  ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  I. 


A  r?:markable  letter. 


SPACIOUS,  comfortable-lookinii:  lioiise.  in  the 
outskirts  of  one  of  the  largest  nianufacturing 
towns  of  Massachusetts ;  the  dining-rooui  is 
brightly  lighted,  and  a  wood  fire  blazet-  and  snaps  cheerily 
in  the  open  fireplace,  for  it  is  kte  October,  and  the  even- 
ing's are  cold.  Around  tlie  cosev  tea-table  are  gathered 
the  family,  namely  :  John  Dutton.  Esq..  proj.rietor  of  the 
celebrated  Sheldon  Paper  Mills;  Mrs.  John  Dutton;  Miss 
Florence  Dutton.  age  fifteen,  commonly  addressed  as 
''Flossie."  or  "Floss:"  and  Masters  Pio'oert,  Hugh,  and 
Nathaniel  Dutton,  ages  respectively  seventeen,  fifteen, 
and  twelve  years.  Flossie  and  Hugh,  it  will  be  noticed, 
are  twins. 

Only  three  more  personages  in  the  town  of  Sheldon  are 
at  present  sufficiently  important  to  merit  an  introduction. 

13 


miw^ 


^"^F 


14 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


They  are,  in  fact,  members  of  the  Button  household,  two 
of  them  actually  signing  that  name  as  their  own,  and  the 
third  plainly  desirous  of  doing  so,  were  he  able.  All 
three  are  in  the  dining-room  at  the  present  moment,  and 
the  fact  of  their  familiarity  with  the  family  is  evident  from 
the  interest  with  which  they  listen,  with  open  eyes  and 
mouths,  to  the  letter  which  their  master  is  reading  aloud. 

Without  further  ceremony,  allow  me  to  present :  Chloe 
(Button),  decided  brunette,  nurse  of  all  the  childen  suc- 
cessively, maid-of-all-work,  and  devoted  slave  to  Miss 
Flossie's  slightest  whim  ;  Teddy  (Button),  remotely  de- 
scended from  County  Kildare,  red-haired,  freckled,  four- 
teen years  old,  errand-boy,  helper,  and  mischief-maker  in 
general,  particularly  attached  to  the  oldest  son:  Carlo 
(Button),  at  the  side  of  pale,  sweet-faced  little  Nat,  —  a 
shaggy,  coal-black,  silken-haired  fellow,  from  the  south 
coast  of  Newfoundland,  as  faithful  a  servant  and  friend 
as  any  in  the  country. 

And  now  for  the  letter.  Mr.  Button  has  evidently  just 
reached  home  from  the  mills,  for  his  hat,  coat,  and  cane 
are  lying  on  the  sofa  where  he  has  dropped  them,  and  he 
is  still  out  of  breath  from  the  quick  half-mile  walk.  All 
eight  of  the  Buttons  listen  eagerly  while  he  reads  :  — 

"  FoKT  Wrangel,  Alaska  Ter.,  Sept.  5,  1868. 
"  My  dear  Brother,  —  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have 
written  to  you.     The  uncertainty  of  the  mails  in  this  new 
adopted  country  of  ours,  the  constant  dispute^  with  Rus- 


^ 


^^S^S^^^^^^Sm 


IS 


A   BEMARKABLE  LETTER. 


16 


I 


sian  traders  who  are  angry  at  having  their  hunting-ground 
sold  over  their  heads  —  or  under  their  feet,  rather !  —  and 
the  treachery  of  the  native  Indians,  as  well  as  the  reck- 
less behavior  of  our  own  troops,  have  kept  my  liands  full 
and  my  head  in  a  continual  worry  since  the  establishment 
of  the  post.  Sometimes  I  wish  the  government  had  kept 
her  seven  millions  in  her  pocket,  and  left  this  desolate 
counti-y  to  take  care  of  itself.  It  was  an  immense  respon- 
sibility to  shoulder.  Have  you  any  idea  of  the  size  of  the 
'  Northwest  Territory,'  old  fellow  ?  Are  you  aware  that 
it  contains  something  over  five  hundred  thousand  square 
miles,  or  about  one-sixth  of  the  entire  extent  of  the 
United  States  and  Territories  ?  This  vast  country  is 
covered  throughout  its  southern  districts  with  jungles  and 
forests,  reaching  far  up  the  sides  of  its  lofty  mountains, 
which  smoke  night  and  dtv}'.  The  portions  nearer  the 
Arctic  Sea  consist  mostly  of  dreary  morass  and  mossy 
'  tundra,'  as  it  is  called,  under  which  lies  a  deep  layer 
of  ice.  never  thawing,  winter  or  summer.  But  in  the  rest 
of  the  territory  are  splendid  forests,  as  I  have  said. 
There  are  mountain  peaks  retiching  (in  Mt.  Wrangel)  the 
enormous  height  of  twenty  thousand  feet  above  the  sea ; 
there  is  a  river,  the  noble  Yukon,  over  two  thousand 
miles  in  length  —  a  rival  of  the  great  Mississippi  itself. 
Among  the  hills  are  winding  streams  and  pleasant  valleys, 
where  brilliant  wild-flowers  blossom,  insects  hover  over 
them  in  the  sunshine,  and  birds  dart  to  and  fro  as  merrily 
as  in  our  old  New  England  orchards.     The  woods  are  full 


II 


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^3^^ 


l-.IK4''W^''fl' 


HP"      ■■  Jl  ^ 


16 


THE  RET)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


of  game.  There  is  no  place  in  the  world  where  bears, 
black.  l)rown,  grizzly,  and  cinnamon,  with  two  or  three 
other  varieties,  are  found  in  such  abundance.  Moose  have 
not  learned  to  fear  the  rifle,  and  wild  goats  clamber  over 
the  rocks  in  full  sight.  The  inland  districts  of  Alaska 
are  almost  absolutely  uninhabited.  The  whole  interior 
population  of  Indians  is  probably  less  than  three  thousand, 
while  no  white  man  ever  passes  beyond  the  protection  of 
the  trading-posts  and  forts. 

'■  By  this  time,  my  dear  John,  you  are  beginning  to 
wonder  why  I  have  launched  forth  into  this  lecture  on 
the  resources  of  our  National  Purchase.  Ah,  ^■ou  have 
noticed,  have  you,  that  I  have  omitted  an  important  item  ? 
Vegetation,  game,  inhabitants,  scenery  —  but  nothing  said 
about  wealth  ! 

'■  Yes.  icealth.  Reports  must  have  reached  you  of  the 
startling  discoveries  of  Haley  and  others.  Little  did  the 
Hudson's  Bay  fur-hunters  dream  that  the}'  were  camping 
each  night  on  a  gold  mine ;  or  that  the  very  rivers  down 
which  they  paddled,  in  pursuit  of  some  paltry,  frightened, 
furred  creature,  were  full  of  gleaming  particles  of  the 
precious  metal ! 

"•Without  doubt,  the  coasts  of  Alaska  are  veined 
throughout  their  length  and  breadth  with  gold  and 
silver.  Shafts  are  being  sunk  in  all  directions,  and 
mines  located.  Haley  found  it  paid  him  to  dig  out 
lumps  of  rock,  a  small  bit  at  a  time,  and  simply  crush 
them  in  a  mortar. 


A  REMARKABLE  LETTER.                                  17 

ears, 

"But  I  am  not  going  to  tempt  you  to  rush  for  the 

liree 

'  diggings,'  my  boy.     There  s  hetter  game  in  the  cover!'' 

lave 

over 

'-  Wliat  in  the  world  does  the  man  mean ! "  exclaimed 

a  ska 

Mrs.  Button.     "  He's  as  mysterious  as  a  sphinx,  and  here's 

erior 

the  supper  all  getting  cold.     Let's  have  the  rest  of  the 

and. 

letter  afterwards." 

m  of 

Whereupon  arose  a  chorus  of  "  Oh,  no,  no !     Read  on. 

read  on  !     Never  mind  the  supper  yet  —  let's  find  out 

?  to 

what  he  means  by  '  better  game ' !  " 

e  on 

Mr.   Button   accordingly  found  his  place  again,  and, 

lave 

holding  the  letter  so  as  to  get  a  little  better  light  upon  it, 

ein  ? 

resumed  his  reading. 

"  I  know  you  will  be  incredulous  when  I  say  there  is 
more  valuable  treasure  to  be  found  in  Alaska  than  gold 
—  knowing,  as  you  do,  that  there  are  no  diamonds  in  the 
territory.  Nevertheless,  I  am  right.  Among  the  many 
ores  which  exist  here,  in  more  or  less  abundance,  is  one 
which  furnishes  a  strange  metal,  well  known  in  medicine 
and  the  arts.  Its  chemical  symbol  is  Hg.  Ah,  you 
start  now !  I  see  you  have  not  forgotten  those  tiresome 
lectures  at  Harvard  ;  you  know  at  last  that  I  am  speak- 
ing of  Mercury,  which  is  obtained  almost  entirely  from 
the  beautiful  crimson  ore  known  as  '  Cinnabar.'  " 

Mr.  Button  paused,  and  glanced  about  the  eager  circle 
of  listeners. 


i  ,JJW"!"»-l"il" 


mmm^mi^mm 


is 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


"  Now,  shall  we  have  supper  ?  The  griddle-cakes  are 
hot,"  said  Mrs.  Dutton,  plaintively,  taking  advantage  of 
the  silence,  and  playing  her  highest  card.  In  vain  !  Even 
Teddy  testified  with  open  mouth  and  round,  light  blue 
"yes  to  his  interest  in  the  subject. 

The  vote  was  none  the  less  emphatic  because  unex- 
pressed in  words.     The  reading  continued. 


i 


i 


"Cinnabar  is  worked  to  a  considerable  extent  in  only 
half  a  dozen  spots  on  the  globe  —  Spain  (which  supplies 
England),  Idria,  Peru,  Japan,  and  one  or  two  other  places. 
It  has  been  discovered  in  California.  All  the  mines  in 
the  world,  taken  together,  yield  only  a  trifle  over  three 
thousand  tons  a  year,  including  the  new  American 
mines. 

"'  No  ore  is  so  easily  decomposed  as  cinnabar ;  it  is 
effected  by  direct  exposure  to  the  oxidizing  flame  of  a 
furnace,  the  mercury  vapor  being  collected  in  condensers. 
I  believe  the  metal  can  be  even  more  economically  sepa- 
rated by  the  use  of  an  iron  retort  in  which  it  can  be 
readily  volatilized,  without  the  escape  of  vapors.  By  the 
old  way,  nearly  half  is  wasted  in  the  process. 

'•  Now  as  to  its  value.  This  varies  largely  from  year  to 
year.  It  runs  from  fifty  cents  to  two  dollars  a  pound, 
avoirdupois.  One  dollar  a  pound,  or  two  thousand 
dollars  a  ton,  would  be  a  low  average. 

"  But  a  ton,  you  say,  is  an  enormous  amount.  Thirty 
tons  is  a  hundreth  part  of  the  world's  annual  product. 


nl 


A   liEMARKAliLE  LETTER. 


19 


"'  What  would  you  say,  John,  to  fifty  tons  a  year,  or 
even  one  hiindml?  In  the  countries  I  have  mentioned, 
the  ore  crops  out,  or  is  found  heh)\v  the  surface,  in  narrow 
veins,  among  nmch  schist  and  slate.  What  would  yoi'* 
say  to  a  whole  mountain  of  cinnabar  ! " 

Mr.  Button  looked  np  with  a  prolonged  "  Wliew-w !  " 
and  Carlo  gave  a  short  yelp.  As  no  one  else  seemed 
disposed  to  conversation,  the  letter  was  resumed. 


"  To  make  a  long  story  short  (for  T  can  see  now  that 
vou  arc  ij-etting  excited,  as  plainlv  as  if  T  were  sitting  with 
you  hi  your  cosey  dining-room  in  Sheldon,  where  you  will 
probaljly  read  this  letter),  the  following  facts  have  recently 
come  to  light;  no  one,  until  this  letter  was  read,  John, 
knew  of  them.  No  one  knows  of  them  now,  except  your 
family,  myself,  and  Peeschee.  The  last  named  gentle- 
man is  a  Chilkat  Indian,  whose  name  in  honest  English 
is  '  The  Fox.'  Call  him  which  you  like,  he  has  served  us 
a  irood  turn.     This  is  how  it  came  about. 

"I  was  oft'  hunting  with  a  party  of  Indians  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort.  We  were  in  camp  about  twenty 
miles  inland  from  Wrangel.  when  something  came  bound- 
ing: into  the  circle  of  firelight  like  a  deer.  It  was  the 
Fox,  who  threw  himself  panting  at  our  feet,  his  teeth 
chattering,  and  his  face  fairly  gray  with  terror.  As  soon 
as  he  could  talk  we  made  out  his  story.  He  had  left  his 
village  a  week  l)efore,  on  a  trapping  expedition.     While 


y- 


T  'T'  " 


'20 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


iit  work  among  his  traps,  lie  liad  accidentally  run  on  to 
the  line  set  by  a  wandering  party  of  Tak-heesh  natives 
from  the  interior,  and  had  ignorantly  —  so  he  assured  us 
a-gain  and  again  —  taken  several  pelts  from  their  traps. 

"  A  dozen  Tak-heesh  had  come  suddenly-  u})on  him, 
taken  him  prisoner,  and  vowed  he  should  die  for  the 
ott'ence.  Poor  Peeschee  in  vain  asserted  his  innocence. 
To  the  stake  he  should  go.  On  the  second  day  of  his 
captidty,  he  had  escaped  by  gnawing  his  thongs  while 
his  captors  were  dozing  after  a  hearty  meal  of  bear  meat, 
and  had  been  running  all  the  afternoon,  he  said. 

"  We  felt  a  little  nervous  about  the  pursuers,  but  those 
Tak-heesh  are  cowards  unless  they  are  terribly  roused,  and, 
sure  enough,  when  they  turned  up  the  next  morning,  a 
rifle  volley  into  the  air  put  the  entire  crowd  to  flight. 
The  Fox  was  as  grateful  as  a  dog,  and,  tlie  day  after 
Me  reached  Fort  Wrangel,  he  did  me  the  good  turn  I 
referred  to. 

"  He  came  quietly  to  the  barracks,  inquired  for  my 
room,  found  me  alone,  and  then  and  tliere  told  me  the 
wonderful  story  which  set  me  to  writing  this  long  letter 
—  an  offence,  John,  which  I  seldom  commit,  you'll 
acknowledge. 

"  What  the  Fox  had  to  say  was  substantially  this :  Last 
autumn  he  made  one  of  his  solitary  expeditions  over  the 
mountains,  in  search  of  furs.  He  penetrated  far  into  the 
interior,  reaching  a  district  absolutely  unknown  to  him 
before  that  trip.     He  describes  it  as  abounding  in  game, 


t  I 


i 


A   REMAUKAliLE  LETTEIi. 


■21 


and  heavily  wooded.  There  were  nuiiiy  rapid  streams, 
all  seeming  to  be  well  stocked  with  trout,  grayling,  and 
other  fish. 

'•  As  often  occurs  in  Alaska,  the  weather  was  cloudy  for 
fully  ten  days  at  a  stretch.  Toward  the  close  of  a  dull, 
drizzly  afternoon,  Peeschee  stopped  for  the  niglit  on  the 
bank  of  a  swift  brook.  Suddenly  the  clouds  in  the  west 
began  to  break  away,  and,  as  they  gradually  parted, 
there  appeared  high  in  the  heavens  what  seemed  to  be  a 
mountain  of  fire.  It  was  a  soft,  glowing  crimson,  and 
from  its  summit  rose  a  huge  colunni  of  smoke  ;  ii  was 
beyond  a  doubt  a  mountain  peak ;  Peeschee  had  never  set 
eyes  on  it  before  in  his  life.  Within  five  minutes  the 
clouds  had  closed  in  again,  and  the  wonderful  peak  was 
out  of  sight. 

''  The  next  three  days  he  spent  in  travelling  straight 
uphill  toward  the  Red  Movmtain.  After  much  struggling 
through  jungles  and  morasses,  fording  streams,  and 
encountering  wild  beasts  by  day  and  nigbt,  he  claims 
that  he  reached  the  base  of  the  peak,  and  discovered  the 
cause  of  its  strange  color.  He  brought  a  piece  of  the 
live  rock  itself,  and  showed  it  to  me.  I  have  it  in  my 
desk  now.  It  is  a  magnificent  specimen  of  cinnabar  in 
the  ore,  deep  crimson  in  color,  promising  to  yield,  if 
worked,  an  enormous  percentage  of  weight  of  the  pure 
metal. 

''John,  that  was  a  mountain  of  mercury!  It  waits 
for   some  one  to  take  those  red  heaps   of   granite   and 


!.!l 


^m 


oo 


THE  UKl)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


r> 


quartz,  fuse  thcni,  and  boar  away  such  a  fortune  as  you 
could  not  make  in  a  century  of  prosperous  mill  operation 
at  Sheldon.  Will  you  come  ?  Shall  we  share  the  Red 
Mountain,  old  fellow,  as  we  used  to  share  the  red  apples 
in  grandfather's  orchard  ? 

••  This  is  what  I  i)ropose.  You  have  been  in  indifferent 
health  for  a  good  many  months.  You  need  a  change ; 
you  have  a  competent  superintendent  in  practical  charge 
of  the  mills;  you  always  liked  hunting  and  camping-out. 
Take  the  boys  along,  and  meet  me  at  some  point  in  west 
central  Alaska  —  say  old  Fort  Yukon.  I  will  come  from 
the  west,  you  from  the  east,  if  you  like,  striking  up  through 
Canada  and  across  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  post  in  British 
America.  From  Fort  Y^dvon  we  can  proceed  together  to 
the  Rod  Mountain,  make  a  rough  survey,  lay  out  our 
claim,  and  the  following  spring  counnence  work  in 
earnest.  In  other  words,  you  can  start  from  Sheldon  as 
soon  as  the  sprhig  of  '60  opens,  reach  the  Alaska  boun- 
dary by  the  first  of  July,  and  before  the  winter  shuts 
down  we  shall  have  finished  all  our  prospecting,  and  be 
ready  to  take  out  ore  in  the  following  May. 

"  One  more  point  to  consider,  and  then  I  have  done. 
It  is,  1  admit,  an  important  point.  How  shall  we  find 
this  half-fabulous  '  Red  Mountain  '  after  wo  have  effected 
a  union  of  forces  at  Fort  Yukon  ?  Hero  we  must  rely 
entirely  on  Peeschee.  He  proposes  to  start  from  the 
fort  (which  is  situated  on  nearly  67°  N.  lat.,  145"  long. 
W.),  and  strike  due  south.     Y^ou  will  be  glad  to  hear  this 


nxfimmt,K^^imm9i'wmiit»mcx,im^i^>^-arMiii 


A   REM ABK ABLE  LETTER. 


23 


when  I  add  that  the  Arctic  Circle  pu.ssos  directly  through 
the  fort.  After  travelling  something  over  two  hundred 
miles  straight  into  the  wilderness,  the  Fox  says  we  shall 
tind  ourselves  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  range  of  mountains. 


9 


-(((- 


^^, 


^^%r 


•  *< 


•  •• 


r\r\n 


/'^--^ 


From  this  point  he  bears  away  slightly  to  the  east,  and 
within  three  or  four  days  expects  to  reach  his  old  camp- 
ing-ground, from  which  he  obtained  his  first  view  of  the 
flaming  peak.  Now  will  begin  by  far  our  hardest  fight 
with  the  forces  of  nature.     Peeschee  has  drawn  a  map, 


i«ni 


24 


77//!,'  liED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


which  he  professes  to  iinderstaiHl.  and  hy  which  he  pro- 
poses to  follow  as  nearly  as  possible  his  former  route  to 
the  base  of  the  luountain  and  up  its  steep  sides.  I  have 
borrowed  this  map  or  chart,  and  will  trace  it  here  for 
you.* 

''  It's  a  curious-looking  affair,  but,  Avith  Peeschee  as 
guide,  I'd  stake  it  against  a  government  chart.  P]verv 
mark  on  it  means  something  to  him.  I'll  give  you  his 
explanation  at  some  otlier  time. 

'•  Now,  then,  once  more,  will  you  come  ? 
"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"Dick  Button. 

'•  P.  S.  Write  full  particulars,  exactly  when  and 
where  you  will  meet  me.  Sorry  you  must  leave  Mrs.  D. 
and  Florence  behind.     Of  course,  you'll  come." 

*  See  Illustration,  page  23. 


I*' 


smtmamMmmm 


CHAPTER  II. 

TREED    BY    A    MOOSE. 

JUST  five  months  after 
the  letter  of  Lieutriumt 
Richard  Diitton  was  read 
aloud  in  his  brotl lev's  (x)- 
sey  dining-room,  a  grimp 
of  people  are  assem})led 
on  the  platform  of  the 
Sheldon  railroad  station. 
There  is  a  tallish,  brown- 
bearded  gentleman,  with 
clear,  brig] it  eyes,  and  an 
exceedingly  gentle  voice; 
a  lady,  of  refined  face  and  mannei,  arid  close  beside  her 
a  young  girl  ;  four  boys,  one  of  them  freckled  and  sandy- 
haired  ;  a  negro  woman,  with  a  red  bandanna  handker- 
chief around  her  black  neck  ;  and  a  young  NcAvfoundland 
dog,  full  of  quiet  surprise  at  all  this  commotion.  Several 
large  trunks  and  cases  are  piled  upon  the  platform,  await- 
ing transportation. 

Presently  the  train  comes  in  sight,  around  a  curve,  and 

2") 


"T^ 


26 


THE  UEl)   MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


slows  up  at  tlio  .station,  ringing  and  hissing  vigorously. 
People,  (log,  and  baggage  are  liui-ried  on  board,  the  con- 
duetor  waves  his  hand,  and,  with  lenewed  clangor  of  bell 
and  liiss  of  steam,  the  train  starts  for  Boston,  bearing  — 
yon  know  as  well  as  I^ — the  entini  Dutton  family  away 
fronj  their  home. 

Dick  Dutton  was  right.  The  letter  could  not  be 
resisted.  A  favorable  answer  had  been  sent,  thorough 
preparations  made  during  the  winter  months,  the  mill 
wound  up  to  run  for  a  full  year  without  the  personal 
supervision  of  the  owner  —  and  oif  the  party  are  starting, 
this  twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  1800,  on  their  long  and 
divided  journey. 

All  the  family,  I  said.  You  see,  there  has  been  a 
slight  change  of  plan.  After  the  letter  had  been  care- 
fully considered,  and  it  had  been  voted  unanimously  that 
Mr.  Dutton  and  the  boys  should  make  the  trip  to  our 
northwest  province,  Mrs.  Dutton  had  unexpectedly 
asserted  herself. 

"  Dick's  plan  is  a  good  one,"  she  said,  "  with  one 
exception." 

'•  What  is  that,  my  dear  ? "  inquired  Mr.  Dutton, 
mildly. 

'•I  do  not  propose  to  stay  at  home  while  you  are  off  in 
the  woods  for  a  year.  Florence  and  I  will  take  the 
regular  San  Francisco  route  to  Sitka,  join  Dick  at  his 
po.st.  and  start  inland  with  him,  meeting  you  at  the  fort." 

Mr.  Dutton  was  astonished,  but.  as  his  wife's  remark 


*MiaigaAiisatAmmi*mataKB>ssAmtirimM.itsm 


'i^'^mitH'ii^^mimiiiitimfi^ismii 


TliKKI)   liV   A    MOOSK. 


27 


.  (0. 


liiid  ratlier  the  appeariinco  of  a  docision  than  a  suggestion, 
he  wisely  refrained  from  opposing  it. 

"You  shall  certainly  go,  my  dear,  if  you  wish  to."  said 
this  exemplary  husl)and.     And  she  did. 

Certain  modilications  of  the  original  route  had  also  heen 
made.    The  ••  itinerary  "  was  finally  laid  out  as  follows  :  — 

The  '•  military  section,"  as  Flossie  ianghingly  calli'd 
the  lieutenant's  party,  were  to  meet  at  Sitka,  and  -pack  " 
over  the  mountains  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon 
River,  moving  down-stream  until  they  should  reach  Fort 
Selkirk,  where  they  would  await  the  eastern  party, 
instead  of  at  Fort  Yukon.  Mr.  Dutton  and  the  boys 
decided  to  follow  the  regular  traders'  route  from  Ottawa, 
northward  and  westward  to  Fort  Churchill,  on  Hudson's 
Bay.  From  there  a  nearly  westerly  course,  bearing  a 
little  to  the  north,  above  Athabasca  Lake  and  below  (on 
the  map)  the  Great  Slave,  would  bring  them  to  Fort 
Simpson ;  thence  over  a  lofty  pass  in  the  Chippeway 
division  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  into  New  Columbia,  and 
to  Fort  Selkirk,  which  is  situated  exactly  G2°  45'  north, 
137°  22'  west  from  Greenwich. 

There  !  We've  done  with  figures  an^^.  theoretical  geog- 
raphy for  a  while  ;  practical  geography  we  nnist  study  in 
spite  of  ourselves.  Once  in  Alaska  territory,  we  nuist 
examine  our  surromidings,  and  pick  our  way,  almost  inch 
by  inch,  for  we  have  no  reliable  guide  to  the  interior  of 
this  great,  desolate  region.  If  we  want  a  map,  we  must 
make  one. 


H- 


28 


THE  liED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


hi 


b 


We  do  not  need  to  follow  the  Dutton  family  over  the 
first  portions  of  their  respective  routes,  which  are  more 
or  less  familiar  to  travellers.  Mi-s.  Button,,  Florence,  and 
Chloe  sailed  from  New  York  for  Aspinwall.  crossed  the 
Isthnms,  took  steamer  again  at  Panama,  and  reached  San 
Francisco  safely,  after  a  journey  of  n.early  six  thousand 
miles.  Here  they  rested  a  week,  and  completed  their 
outfit  necessary  for  a  summer  in  the  woods.  On  a  brigiit 
morning  In  May  they  started  in  a  sailing  vessel  for  Vic- 
toria and  Sitka.     So  much  for  the  ladies'  party. 

The  sterner  portion  of  the  family  had  hardly  a  more 
eventful  trip  until  they  left  Fort  Churchill.  From  this 
point  the  boys  had  plenty  of  shooting,  and  Mr.  Dutton 
had  much  ado  to  keep  them  within  reach  of  camp.  The 
trip,  however,  was  quickly  made,  the  ••  Rockies  "  sur- 
mounted, and  by  the  second  week  in  June  the  party  were 
descending  the  western  slopes  of  the  mountains  within  ' 
one  hundred  and  fifty  niih^s  of  Fort  Selkirk. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  when  Mr.  Dutton, 
whose  orders  were  obeyed  by  eveiy  one  in  the  expedition, 
called  a  halt,  on  the  first  day  after  the  high  peaks  were 
left  behind. 

It  was  a  curious  company  that  was  gathered  there. 
Mr.  Dutton  and  the  three  boys  were  browned  from  ex- 
posure to  the  sun  and  all  sorts  of  weather :  while  Teddy 
was  burned  a  bright  red,  and  fairly  peppered  with  freckles. 
Carlo  was  in  the  highest  of  spirits,  and  gambolled  about 
the    party  like  a  six-months-old    pup.     There  were   two 


TliEED  BY  A   MOOSE. 


29 


Indian  guides,  strong-limbed,   quiet  fellows,  named  Joe 
and  .Hill. 

At  Mr.  Button's  word,  these  two  last  named  tlirew 
down  their  heavy  packs,  and  drew  themselves  up  with  an 
air  of  relief. 

'-  Ugh  1 "  grunted  Joe,  wiping  his  forehead.  ''  Much 
hot  comin'.     No-see-'ems  and  skeeters  dis  night." 

"  Midges  ?  Have  you  felt  any,  Joe  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Button,  recognizing  the  Indian  term  for  those  tiny 
tormentors. 

'^  No  feel  'em.  Smell  'em,"  said  Joe,  gravely,  vsniffing 
the  air. 

Mr.  Button  laughed,  and  turned  his  attention  to  select- 
ing a  good  "  nooning "  spot  where  they  could  spend  the 
hottest  hours  of  the  day. 

Tliey  had  halted  beside  a  swift-running  stream,  whose 
waters,  though  white  with  glacial  silt,  promised  sport  for 
Hugh,  the  fisherman  of  the  party.  All  around  them  was 
a  forest  of  immense  spruce  trees,  through  which  they  had 
been  travelling  since  early  morning.  The  ground  was 
everywhere  covered  with  thick  moss,  and  long,  gray 
streamers  hung  from  the  lofty  boughs  overhead. 

''  I  tell  you  what,  father !  "  exclaimed  Robert,  with 
enthusiasm,  "this  would  be  a  jolly  place  to  camp  in  for 
a  week.  There's  plenty  of  water,  and  I'll  warrant  the 
woods  are  full  of  game." 

''  A  good  place  enough,  Rob,  but  we've  no  time  to  lose. 
The  mosquitoes  are  getting  thicker  and  hungrier  every 


30 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


I  • 


day,  and  l)efore  long  we  shall  have  to  rush  to  the  settle- 
ments for  our  lives.  They  are  the  pest  of  Alaska,  you 
know." 

"  But,  father,  w^e  are  within  a  few  days'  march  of  Fort 
Selkirk,  and  are  ahead  of  time." 

"  I  want  to  see  mother,"  interposed  little  Nat,  quietly. 
'' Don't  you,  Rob?" 

The  older  brother  made  no  further  protest,  but  began 
preparations  for  a  short  hunt  before  dinner. 

''1  won't  be  gone  long,  father,"  said  he,  shouldering 
his  Winchester,  and  starting  oft"  at  an  easy  gait. 

"Won't  you  take  one  of  the  guides  with  you,  my 
boy?" 

'•  Oh,  no,  thank  you.  They've  had  enough  to  do,  pack- 
ing our  blankets  through  the  woods.  Good-bye.  I'll 
keep  within  hearing  of  a  gun-shot."     And  he  was  gone. 

Mr.  Button  now  busied  himself  about  his  "skeleton 
tent,"  as  he  called  it  —  a  device  of  his  own,  for  relief 
from  the  attacks  of  gnats,  mosquitoes,  and  other  insects, 
Avhile  on  the  march. 

It  was  a  very  simple  arrangement;  merely  an  "A" 
tent  made  of  mosquito  netting.  It  was  large  enough  to 
accommodate  all  the  party. 

A  few  minutes  sufficed  to  pitch  it  carefully,  so  that  no 
rent  should  be  made  in  its  meshes.  The  guides,  Nat,  and 
Mr.  Button  then  crept  under  its  folds,  and,  stretched  out 
comfortably  on  rubber  blankets  which  had  been  first 
sj)read  to  keep  out  dampness,  all  four  fell  fast  asleep. 


1 


^r^WfglJlfflPWIWllg' 


TREED  BY  A   MOOSE. 


31 


^>^ 


Hugh  whistled  for  Carlo,  and  took  his  way,  fishing- 
tackle  in  hand,  down  to  an  inviting  pool  just  in  sight 
through  the  trees. 

When  Mr.  Button  awoke  it  was  high  noon.  The  guides 
were  already  preparing  the  noon  meal,  one  of  them  build- 
ing a  good  fire,  laying  the  sticks  all  one  way,  for  conven- 
ience of  cooking ;  the  other  engaged  in  dressing  a  line 
mess  of  trout  which  bore  witness  to  Hugh's  success. 

Nat  strayed  about  the  camp,  looking  for  flowers  —  the 
delicate  Linncea.  or  twiu-liower,  the  violet,  the  cornel, 
and  others  familiar  in  the  home  woods.  The  oldest  boy 
had  not  returned,  and  Mr.  Button  began  to  feel  anxious 
about  him.  He  fired  his  rifie  three  tunes,  a  signal  that 
always  meant,  •'  Answer,  and  come  into  camp !  "  But 
there  was  no  reply. 

At  one  o'clock  they  sat  down  to  dinner,  worried  and 
perplexed  l)y  Rob's  absence.  Two  hours  passed,  and  still 
he  did  not  appear.  It  was  time  to  resume  march.  At  a 
word  from  the  captain,  Joe,  the  Indian,  took  up  his  ritle, 
and  plunged  into  the  woods,  in  the  direction  the  missing 
boy  had  taken. 

When  Robert  left  the  camp,  he  had  no  definite  inten- 
tion, save  that  he  would  skirt  round  the  base  of  a  low 
hill,  about  a  mile  away,  and  return  to  camp  within  an 
hour  or  two.  He  hoped  to  come  across  some  sort  of 
game;  a  brace  of  grouse,  at  least,  of  which  there  are 
several  varieties  iu  Britisli  America.  His  Winchester 
rifle  had  half  a  dozen  cartridges  in  it,  and  Robert  was  a 


t 


V 


■MMMiH 


T^ 


32 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


P    i 


good  sliot.  He  liad  no  fear  of  missing  a  partridge  or 
ptarmigan  at  thirty  3'ards,  with  a  single  ball. 

The  forest  floor  was  encumbered  with  i'allen  and  de- 
cayed logs,  into  wiiose  crumbling  sides  lie  sank  so  often 
th:it  his  progress  was  slow.  There  was  very  little  under- 
growth to  impede  his  way,  however,  and  within  half  an 
hour  he  reached  sliarply  rising  ground,  wliich  told  him  he 
was  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  he  had  seen  from  camp. 

Up  to  this  i)oint  he  had  kept  within  hearing  of  the 
stream,  l)ut  now  he  turned  off  at  right  angles,  thinking 
he  would  walk  fifteen  minutes  and  then  retrace  his  steps. 

Before  he  had  advanced  far  in  this  new  direction,  he 
found  himself  following  a  sort  of  trail.  Indeed,  it  was 
almost  a  beaten  path  in  the  woods. 

'•Ah  I  "  said  Rob  to  himself,  with  some  dissatisfaction, 
''  we  have  struck  civilization  again  I  Here's  a  regular 
route  for  fur-traders,  I've  no  doubt.  Well,"  he  solilo- 
quized, as  he  sauntered  lazily  along  the  path,  '•  I  might  as 
well  —  halloo  !  " 

He  stopped  and  examined  a  track  that  was  plainly  out- 
lined in  a  patch  of  mud.  It  was  shaped  like  the  print  of 
a  huge  human  foot,  fourteen  inches  long  at  the  very 
least.  Robert  had  not  "  trailed  "  from  the  Hudson's  Bay 
settlements  for  nothing.  He  knew  that  no  man  had  left 
th.'it  footprint.  It  was  undoubtedly  the  track  of  a  bear, 
and  an  enormous  one,  too :  possibly  a  grizzly. 

The  boy's  heart  beat  so  hard  that  it  seemed  as  if  he 
must  stifle.     The  "  sign  "  was  fresh.     It  certainly  was  not 


-^    'jJI'.JtSijJW'*^'''?' 


TREED   BY  A   MOOSE. 


38 


half  an  hour  old,  for  the  water  was  still  oozing  into  it 
from  the  sides. 

Should  he  go  on  ?  The  ambition  of  Robert's  life  just 
now  was  to  shoot  a  grizzly,  but  he  knew  the  danger  to  a 
single  hunter  if  he  should  meet  one  of  these  terrible 
brutes  alone. 

It  flashed  across  the  boy's  mind  at  the  same  moment 
that  the  trail  he  was  following  was  very  closely  con- 
nected with  that  peculiar  track.  It  was  no  hunter's  at 
all.  It  was  one  of  the  famous  ''  bear-roads,"  for  which 
the  great  Northwest  is  noted,  and  which  thread  the 
densest  forests  in  every  direction. 

Only  six  charges  in  that  rifle!  But  the  temptation 
was  too  great.  Robert  concluded  at  least  to  follow  the 
path  cautiously  for  a  short  distance.  Perhaps  he  could 
come  upon  his  shaggy  game  unexpectedly.  Perhaps  he 
could  stalk  him  ! 

With  these  thoughts  passing  swiftly  through  his  mind, 
he  examined  the  lock  of  his  rifle  carefully,  assured  him- 
self that  the  cartridges  were  in  place,  and,  stooping  over 
like  an  old  hunter,  advanced  softly  along  the  trail. 

At  every  slightest  sound  in  the  forest  his  heart  gave  an 
answering  thump ;  but  no  bear  appeared.  He  was 
beginning  to  think  of  turning  back  toward  the  camp, 
when  a  curious  noise  fell  upon  his  ears.  It  was  a  succes- 
sion of  dull  blows,  like  that  of  a  farmer  driving  a  stake 
into  the  ground. 

A  sudden  turn  of  the  path  brought  him  unexpectedly 


^& 


mttm 


fVK' 


gum, 


34 


THE  RED  MOILYTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


I 


upon  a  singular  scene.  About  a  hundred  yards  away,  the 
trail  was  blocked  by  a  huge,  dark  form.  It  stood  aljout 
four  feet  nigh,  and  was  covered  with  long,  shaggy  fur  of 
a  dirty  brown  color.  Robert  recognized  the  animal  at 
once,  although  it  was  back  to  him.  It  was  the  Brown 
Bear,  Ursiis  Arctos,  of  the  cold  countries.  It  was  witli  a 
feeling  half  chagrin  and  half  relief  that  the  boy  knew 
in  a  moment  it  was  no  grizzly  before  him.  That  it  was, 
on  the  other  hand,  his  very  ugliest  and  most  formidable 
relative  south  of  the  Arctic  Circle  was  equally  certain. 

But  what  was  the  occasion  of  the  bear's  quiet  attitude  ? 
A  glance  along  the  path  explained  matters.  Directly 
facing  the  bear  stood  an  old  bull  moose,  his  spreading 
antlers  touching  the  boughs  on  each  side  of  tbc  path. 
The  big  fellow  was  not  standing  at  his  full  height.  His 
head  was  slightly  lowered,  and  his  eyes  fixed  intently  on 
those  of  his  near  neighbor.  Neither  of  the  animals  paid 
the  slightest  attention  to  the  new-comer. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  good  reason  why  there  should 
be  a  quarrel.  There  was  plenty  of  room,  with  a  little 
squeezing,  for  a  bear  and  a  moose,  even  if  both,  as  was 
the  case,  were  larger  than  the  average,  to  pass  each  other 
comfortably.  But  neither  of  them  thought  of  yielding  an 
inch  ;  they  glared  silently  at  each  other,  like  two  team- 
sters who  have  unexpectedly  met  in  a  narrow  alley. 
Neither  one  would  back  out,  that  was  settled. 

The  moose  raised  one  of  his  great  hoofs,  and  struck  it 
upon  the  ground  several  times,  making  moss  and  mud  fly, 


1 


> 


' 


ti! 


IT   WAS    EVIDENT    THAT    AFFATUS    WEUE    REACHTXCr    A    CRISIS. 


^ 


k«*.«i 


T 


<««■ 


TliKKh   nr   A   MOOSK 


87 


while  his  eyes  seemed  fairly  to  (lash  lire.  His  lon*^.. 
ungainly  head  dro()[)ed  lower  :  it  was  evident  that  affairs 
were  reaching  a  crisis,  and  Robert  conchided  it  was  time 
to  act.  An  old  hunter  would  ha\e  walked  backward  softly 
to  the  turn  in  the  path,  and  then  run  for  his  life,  leaving 
the  two  forest  princes  to  fight  it  out  as  they  pleased. 

Unfortunately,  the  boy  did  no  such  thing.  He  raised 
his  rifle,  sighted  a  spot  in  the  very  centn;  of  the  moose's 
broad  breast,  and  tired. 

At  the  very  same  instant,  the  latter  made  up  his  mind 
to  knock  that  bear  into  small  bits,  and  bounded  forward. 
The  bear  was  watching  for  tlr  ,  and  rose  on  his  haunches 
to  meet  his  antagonist. 

So  it  happened  that  the  ritle  ball,  instead  of  doing  its 
work  as  was  intended,  merely  scored  the  bear's  right 
shoulder,  and  inflicted  a  slight  wound  on  the  flank  of  the 
moose. 

Both  the  brutes  were  startled  by  the  heavy  report  of 
the  u'un,  and  enrao-ed  bv  the  stino;  of  the  ball.     The  im- 

O  CD  *.-  (—> 

petus  of  the  big  ••horned  horse"  was  so  great  that  he 
could  not  stop  himself,  but  struck  the  bear  squarely  on 
the  snout,  causing  Bruin  to  roll  over  backward,  with  the 
moose  on  top  of  him. 

The  two  huge  creatures  scrambled  to  their  feet,  and 
simultaniiously  caught  sight  of  Robert,  who  pluckily  drew 
a  bead  on  the  brown,  struggling  mass,  and  fired  a  second 
time,  with  as  little  apparent  result  as  before. 

Then  he  started  for  the  nearest  tree,  which,  luckily  for 


'V, 


(i 


38 


TIIK   lih'l)   MOr.\T.ll\   OF  ALASKA. 


Iiiiu,  was   a  goo.l-slzod  spr.ico.  witli   two  or  tlirec  bouglis, 
or  stiihs  of  thoiii,  close  to  tlie  ground. 

Uv  had  to  drop  his  ,-ille,  and  indued  had  no  time  to 
.spare,  for  by  a  conuiion  impulse  both  the  hite  enemies 
rushed  against  their  coninion  foe. 

Pvobert  drew  a  long  breath  as  he  seated  himself,  not 
very  eomfortablj-.  on  a  stom.  branch,  souie  tw(>nty  feet 
Irom  tlie  ground.  To  his  relief,  the  bear  concluded  that 
Ills  honor  had  been  vindicated,  and  and>led  ot^'  on  his 
-road  "  at  a  swift  pace,  which  took  him  out  of  sight  in 
two  minutes. 

Not  so  the  big  moose.  Pawing  the  ground,  and  snort- 
ing fiercely,  he  continued  to  charge  up  and  down,  under 
the  tree,  until  at  last,  perc(>iving  that  his  hated  assailant 
was  for  the  time  out  of  his  reach,  he  sullenly  connnenced 
a  slow  walk  to  and  fro,  like  a  sentinel  on  guard  duty; 
now  and  then  casting  vindictive  glances  into  the  ever- 
gi'een  boughs  overhead. 

Faintly  three  rifle  shots  came  echoing  through  the 
woods,  hut  Kobert  could  not  reply.  He  had  giu-n  his 
party  no  idea  of  where  he  was  going.  Plainly  his  position 
was  a  disagreeable  one,  not  to  say  positively  dangerous. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 


1#M 


mL- 


CHAPTER  III. 


TED  S    PRICKLY    BEAR. 

SOON  as  Joe,  tlie  younger  and 
more  au:ile  of  Mr.  Dutton'.s  two 
Indian  guides,  struck  into  the  for- 
est, he  formed  a  definite  plan  of 
action  in  his  mind. 

He  had  seen  his  vountj:  master 
start  off  in  his  expedition,  and  had 
noted  the  direction  lie  had  taken. 
Once  out  of  sight  of  camp,  the  trail 
was  lost  in  the  deep  green  moss  that  covered  the  ground 
everywhere.  Joe,  however,  was  not  at  a  loss  for  the  route 
he  should  take.  He  reasoned  that  the  boy  would,  in  the 
main,  keep  the  direction  he  had  at  first  taken,  and  would 
follow  the  stream  up  toward  the  hills,  good  shooting  being 
generally  found  near  water ;  moreover,  the  brook  would 
be  an  infjillible  guide  back  to  camp. 

Swiftly  and  stealthily  as  a  cat  the  Indian  glided  through 
the  dark  shadows  of  the  forest,  in  and  out  among  the 
trunks  of  the  evergreens.  Now  and  then  he  would  utter 
a  grunt  of   satisfaction  as  his  quick  glance  fell  upon  a 

39 


40 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


i^ 


l)roken   twig,  or  ;i   red   mass  of   cniuibling  wood  where 
Robert  had  phiced  an  incautious  foot. 

Arriving  at  the  bear  path,  he  did  not  hesitate  a  moment, 
but  followed  it  with  a  swift,  shambling  gait  like  the  awk- 
ward trot  of  the  animals  who  had  trodden  down  the  path 
for  him. 

When  he  perceived  the  big  track  in  tlie  mud,  he  started, 
paused,  and  examined  it  carefully ;  then  felt  of  the 
handle  of  his  long  knife  —  he  had  brought  no  other 
weapon  —  and  kept  on  as  before. 

If  you  had  been  watching  him,  a  few  minutes  later,  you 
would  have  seen  him  sudden!}  come  to  a  standstill,  listen 
eagerly,  and  then  creep  forward  on  hands  and  knees. 
Presently  he  dropped  flat  on  the  ground,  and  l)egan 
wriggling  forward  as  silently  as  a  snake,  but  more 
slowly. 

From  his  perch,  Robert  caught  sight  of  a  dark  iigure 
crouching  on  the  niosi;  a  hundred  feet  away,  to  the  lee- 
ward. At  first  he  turned  sick  with  fear,  thinking  it  was 
a  puma,  making  ready  for  a  spring.  Then  he  recognized 
with  delight  the  homely  features  of  his  guide. 

The  besieger  just  then  was  wandering  moodily  about, 
at  about  the  same  distance  the  other  side  of  the  tree,  his 
attention  being  distracted  by  a  swarm  of  mosquitoes  who 
kept  him  stamping  and  licking  furiously.  It  was  evident 
that  he  had  not  the  least  idea  of  the  Indian's  presence. 

The  latter  wriggled  nearer  the  tree,  nearer,  —  until  he 
could  lay  his  hand  on  the  repeating  rifle. 


n 


iiiiii 


TED'S   PliHKLY   11  KAIL 


41 


The  sliglit  noise  he  made  in  coekin*;'  tlio  piece  caused 
the  moose  lo  look  up  quickly,  half  turning  as  he  did  so, 
and  exposing  his  hroad,  hrown  side. 

A  shot  rang  out,  and  another.  The  moose  started  for 
the  tree  like  lightning,  hut  hefore  he  had  covered  half  the 
distance  he  fell  headlong.  To  leap  to  his  side  and  i)lunge 
the  keen  hlade  of  the  knife  into  his  throat  \va  hut  an 
instant's  work  for  the  Indian,  who  had  despatch  'aany 
a  moose  in  his  day. 

As  Rohert  descended  stiffly  from  his  tree,  and  saw  the 
poor  creature's  huge  hulk  stretched  out,  helpless  and  still, 
he  felt  a  pang  of  remorse. 

"It's  too  had,  Joe,"  he  said,  gazing  at  his  pro.strate 
enemy. 

'•  H'm.  You  no  kill  'ini,  he  kill  you,"  remarked  the 
other,  in  soft  gutturals.     -  You  lucky  git  'way  from  'im, 


VIS. 


They  cut  several  slices  of  meat  from  the  moose,  and 
Joe  took  especial  pains  to  carry  away  the  muzzle,  or 
upper  lip,  which  is  esteemed  a  dainty  among  hunters. 
The  magnificent  antlers  they  were  of  course  o'uliged  to 
leave  hehind. 

The  Indian  had  as  yet  made  no  allusion  to  the  hear. 
When  thev  had  travelled  ahout  half  way  to  the  camp, 
and  had  heen  walking  in  silence  for  some  time,  he  sud- 
denly asked  :  — 

"  You  shot  at  hear,  too  ?  " 

Robert  laughed  rather  shamefacedly. 


li 


■! 

1    I 


T 


42 


rilE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


m 


'-  Yes,  I  did,  Joe.  I  guess  I  didn't  hurt  him  much,  and 
I'm  glad  1  didn't.  One  of  those  splendid  creatures  is 
enoui2;li  to  kill  in  a  dav." 

•'  You  no  lire  when  you  see  'im  'gain,"  remarked  tiie 
Indian.     •'  No  hurt  poor  bear,"  he  added. 

Hob  caught  the  twinkle  in  his  companion's  eye. 

"•  You're  laughing  at  me,  old  fellow  I  "  he  cried,  good- 
naturedly.     '•  Never  mind,  I'll  pay  3'ou  up  some  day." 

'■  No  shoot  bear  when  vou  'lone."  said  Joe,  more 
soberly.  "  Nor  moose,  too.  Wait  for  Injun  come,  he 
help  shoot." 

"  Well.  I'll  be  more  careful  another  time.  Hullo,  here 
we  are  at  camp.  Sorry  you  were  worried,  father." 
as  he  saw  Mi-.  Button's  look  of  relief  at  his  api:)roach. 

'•  T  was  worried.  Rob,"  said  the  older  man.  earnestly, 
'•  and  I  thank  God  that  you're  back  safe.  If  I  had 
realized  half  the  dangers  and  hardshi})s  of  this  wild  coun- 
try. I'd  never  have  come.  I  suppose  Dick  is  used  to  them, 
and  don't  mind  meeting  a  grizzly,  or  fighting  mosquitoes 
for  a  week  at  a  time,  or  running  on  to  a  tribe  of  hostiles. 
I  confess  I  do." 

'•  But.  father,  we  were  never  so  well  in  our  lives.  Just 
look  at  Nat.  there  !  " 

And.  indeed,  it  did  one  good  to  glance  at  the  little 
fellow's  brown,  health}'  face. 

'•  Well,  well."  said  Mr.  Button,  brightening.  ''  we're  all 
in  safe  keeping,  no  doul)t.  Tell  me  about  your  adven- 
ture. Rob.     It's  too  late  to  move  further  to-night,  and  we 


I 


TEDS   PRICKLY   BE  Mi 


43 


could  hardly  find  a  better  camping-ground.     The  tents. 


boy 


c.    '    " 


This  last  was  addressed  to  the  guides,  who  at  once 
quietly  set  about  their  preparations  for  the  night.  While 
the  boys  gathered  eagerly  about  Rob,  as  lie  described  the  big 
gaiH'  he  had  seen,  two  tents  of  light,  strong  drilling  were 
taken  from  the  packs  and  pitched.  They  were  of  the 
"  Shelter  "  form,  with  side  ilaps  that  were  secured  to  the 
ground  by  pegs.  These  were  necessary  to  keep  out 
the  little  winged  tormentors  whose  falsetto  songs  already 
began  to  ring  unpleasantly  in  the  ears  of  the  hunters. 

The  mosquito  bars  were  now  stretched  across  the  front 
of  the  tents,  admitting  light,  air.  and  nothimj'  else,  unless 
perhaps  the  midges,  or  no-see-'ems.  whose  approach  the 
Indians  feared. 

In  the  midst  of  Rob's  glowing  account,  there  arose  a 
series  of  howls  and  cries,  mingled  with  the  barkina:  of  a 
dog.  close  by  the  camp. 

All  hands  seized  rifles  and  axes,  and  ran  to  the  rescue. 

••  Oh,  nuu'ther  !  Oh.  save  me.  quick  I  She's  comin' 
a  ft  her  me.  sure  !     Come  quick  wid  yev  grns  !  " 

A  moment  later  a  shout  of  laughter  went  up  from  the 
rescuers.     Even  the  taciturn  Indians  smiled. 

There  \vas  the  valiant  Teddy,  with  his  hair  fairly 
standing  on  end,  glaring  wildly  at  a  small  ])lack  animal, 
which  crouched  in  a  tree,  about  ten  feet  from  the  irround. 

''  Sure.  I  have  fixed  it  wid  me  eyes."  said  Teddy.  "  I 
hnve  a  slipell  on  it,  I  have.     If  1  look  off,  it'll  jump." 


0 


44 


THE  III::.   MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


"Why,  what  is  it,  Ted  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Button,  puttin, 
on  a  sober  face.  '^ 

to  1.™      &„e   I  looked  to  see  the  ould  one  come  ™.l,i„, 
""to  the  bushes  ivery  minute,  and  that'.,  why  I  called 

All  thi«  time  Carlo  was  barking  furiously  al   the  little 
annual,  whatever  it  was. 

•'I  think  the  safest  way."  said  Mr.  Button,  s-^pressinc. 
a  smde  once  n,ore.  ■■  is  to  leave  Teddy  here  for  a  while  tl 
vatc     the  beast.     If  the  .she-bear  attacks  vou.   be  sure 
to  call  us.  led,"  he  added,  nraking  as  if  he  wJuld  walk  otf 
But  the  Iri.,h  boy  set  up  a  mournful  wail  that  would 
Have  touched  a  heart  of  stone. 
■•  Ocli.  don't  lave  ,ne,  snr !     I'll  be  kilt  entirely '  " 
"Oh    Ted!"   called  out  Hugh,  who  could  no  loucre- 
keep   sdence.   -.killed    by  a-hedgehog!     Think  of  V'- 
Uon  t  you  see  his  prickles  ?  " 

Poor  Teddy  grew  even  redder  than  before  as  he  ev,.n- 
■t'l^d  Jl.e  animal  ane«-,  and  for  the  Hrst  tin>e  noticed  the 

He  slunk  back  to  camp,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before 
tlie  boys  ceased  to  allude  to  •'  Ted's  prickly  bear  " 

■flic  night  passed  quietly,  and  an  early  start  was  n  ,  le 

next  n,omi„g.     Before  they  halted  for  th,.ir  noon  r,  s, 

tho.v  had  tnade  a  good  fifteen  miles,  due  west.     Nat  was 

,red.  and   when  they  started  for  tbel.   ,.r.e,.noon  tran.p. 

•ft.",  the  older  and  larger  Indian.  !,ad  a  a.risus  pack  upon 


If    k 


amm 


TED'S  I'lUCKLY  IiEA:\ 


45 


Ms  back.  It  was,  in  fact,  no  other  than  Nat  himself, 
flonifortabiy  seated  in  a  natural  chair,  formed  by  cutting- 
a,  distorted  birch  close  to  the  ground,  and  using  the  stump 
of  a  bent  bough  for  a  seat.  A  belt  was  carried  around 
the  Indian's  waist,  to  steady  the  chair,  but  the  weight 
came  largely  upon  his  forehead,  which  held  the  loop  of  a 
\eather  thong  supporting  this  human  piece  of  baggage. 
Mr.  Button  had  seen  Peruvian  natives  carry  travellers  in 
this  way,  over  dangerous  mountain  passes,  and  Jim  found 
that  it  worked  to  a  charm. 

At  al)out  three  o'clock  the  leader  of  the  party  uttered 
a  cry  of  delight. 

"  Look  :  "  he  said,  pointing  forward.  '"  The  head- 
waters of  the  Pelly  !  " 

"  What  is  the  Pelly,  father?"  asked  the  oldest  boy. 
''The   northern   branch   of    the   Yukon.   Rob.     Where 
that  river  joins  the  old  •  Lewis,'  or  properly  the  Yukon 
itself,  is  Fort  Selkirk,  and  there  we  shall  find  youi-  mother, 
Flossie,  and  Dick." 

''  Hooray  1  "  shouted  Hugh,  catching  his  father's  enthu- 
siasm.    ••  How  long  will  it  take  to  reach  them  ? " 

''  I  should  think  that  by  day  after  to-morrow  we  ought 
to  come  in  sight  of  the  chimneys  of  the  old  fort.  As  soon 
as  possible  we  will  build  a  raft,  and  finish  our  journey  by 
water." 

An  hour's  fast  walking  brought  the  party  to  the  edge 
of  a  small  lake.  On  the  southern  shore  were  high  blutt's, 
crowned  with  evergreen  forests.     Just  before  them  lay  a 


mmmiSsaBam 


.  mf\  ■       1 1  JHMi 


46 


Trr?J  RED  MOUXTAiy    OF  ALASKA 


H 


little  inoado'.v.  Its  bright  green  grass  was  dotted  with 
dandelions  and  buttercups;  butteriiies.  red  and  yellow, 
tioa^.ed  gracefully  in  the  sunshine.  A  cloud  of  waterfowl 
rose  from  the  reeds  near  by.  and.  flying  low  over  the 
sniooth  water,  plunged  into  it  again  not  half  a  mile  away, 
with  a  deal  of  splashing. 

:..  >reeze  stirred  the  surface  of  the  lake;  the  hills 

along  k    .shore  were  reflected  as  in  a  miiTor. 

'^Beautiful,  beautiful:"  nmrunu-ed  Mr.  Button,  baring 
his  head  for  a  moment,  and  gazing  over  tlio  ti'anquil 
scene.  -Why  should  not  one  settle  here,  and  spend  his 
days  within  sight  of  this  lo\ely  sheet  of  water?  No 
cares,  but  plenty  of  — " 

••  Mosquitoes  !  "  interrupted  one  of  the  Indians,  gravely. 
The  boys  burst  into  a  shout  of   hiughter  at    the  sudden 
conclusion   of    their  fathei-'s  soliloquy,  and  ran  gleefully 
down  to  the  water's  edf^'e. 

"  See,  father,  see  !  "  cried  little  Nat  presently,  holding 
up  a  small  brown  animal  in  his  arms.  It  was  a  vouno- 
marmot,  a  species  which  furnishes  to  the  Indians  of  the 
interior  their  blankets,  these  being  niad(>  of  numerous 
skins  of  the  little  creatures,  .sewed  tocrether. 

After  an  insjiection  by  all  the  boys,  the  captive  Avas 
permitted  to  waddle  off  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  presuma- 
bly in  the  direction  iiis  parents  had  taken. 

"Camp,  boys,  camp!"  called  Mr.  Dutton.  and  all 
liands  set  busily  to  ^vork,  preparing  foi-  the  night.  The 
tent  was  pitched  on  the  bank  of  a  tiny  streani  that  fell 


a-ji 


>'««iHi<,»lMH»k.. 


TED'S  PRICKLY  BEAR. 


47 


Tnusically  over  a  mossy  ledge,  into  the  lake  itself.  The 
boys  cut  and  broke  arnifuls  of  boughs  from  the  young 
spruces  that  grew  thickly  along  the  edge  of  the  forest, 
and  threw  them  into  the  camp  for  a  bed.  Nat  was  left 
to  kindle  the  fire,  a  task  at  which  he  was  a  particular 
adept.  With  bits  of  bark  and  dried  twigs  he  soon  had  a 
jolly  blaze  mounting  up  through  the  larger  sticks,  and  the 
camp  was  ready.  Rob  strolled  olf  with  his  gun.  and  Hugh 
with  hshing-rod  and  flies,  as  usual.  Mr.  Button  took 
shelter  behind  a  mosquito  net,  and  registered  hi  his  diary 
the  events  of  the  day.  the  various  sorts  of  plants  and 
li vine  creatures  he  had  observed;  and  the  situation  and 
most  striking  characteristics  of  the  lake  before  him.  Then 
he  took  out  his  map  of  the  British  provinces  and  Alaska, 
settling  his  position  beyond  a  doubt,  and  marking  his 
camping  spot  with  a  pencilled  cross.  Those  l)oys  who 
woidd  like  to  know  just  wliere  the  party  was  encamped 
may  make  a  cross  on  tlieir  maps  at  exactly  lat.  (51°  oO' 
N.,  long.  128°  10'  W.  from  Greenwicli.  If  the  map  is  a 
good  one,  they  will  find  this  lake,  sliaped  somethhig  like 
a  horseshoe,  with  the  open  end  toward  the  north.  On  the 
east  baidc  of  the  right-hand  arm  of  the  horseshoe  was 
'^  Camp  Prospect,"  as  Mr.  Button  named  their  halting- 
place. 


( 


CHAPTER    IV. 


AX    UXSEEN    ENEMY. 


:l 


^HE  afternoon  had  been 
so  bright,  friends  seemed 
so  near,  and  camp  was  so 
pleasantly  situated,  that 
the  Buttons  looked  for- 
ward to  a  peaceful,  rest- 
ful   night.     Tliey   were 
doomed    to  serious  dis- 
appointment. 
Hugh    came   back    from    the  lake    empty-handed,  and 
Robert  was  the  lucky  one  this  time,  bringing  back  from 
his  hunting  expedition  a  fine  bag  of  black  duck,  and  a 
good  fat  rabbit. 

While  Joe  was  preparing  the  ducks  for  supper,  Teddy, 
whose  bump  of  curiosity  was  always  leading  him  to  poke 
about  among  bushes  and  under  logs,  came  rushing  back 
to  camp,  and  breathlessly  announced  an  important  dis- 
covery. 

"  Sure,  it's  a  bear  this  time,"  he  stammered,  lookino- 
over  his  shoulder.     '-  Ye've  tould  me  toime  and   toime 

48 


H 


AN    UNSEEN  ENEMY 


49 


agin  that  the  print  of  a  bear's  fut  looks  like  a  man's  boot. 
Sure,  there's  wan  here  in  the  bushes  that's  the  very  image 
o'  Avan,  tues  an'  all  Oh,  wirra,  wirra,  he'll  ate  us  up 
before  morn  in'  1  " 

••  Hush,  Teddy,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Button,  authoritatively. 
"  Tell  us  where  you  saw  the  track.'' 

'•  Jist  bey  ant  in  the  bushes." 

"Come, -Joe,  we'll  look  at  it." 

The  rest  wanted  to  follow,  but  Mr.  Button  bade  them 
stay  where  they  were.  He  had  uncomfortable  n;isgiviugs 
regarding  that  track,  with  its  toes  so  plainly  marked. 
What  if  it  were  not  a  bear's  footprint  at  all  !     What  if  — 

His  worst  fears  were  realized  when  he  saw  the  Indian's 
manner  on  looking  at  the  track. 

••  H'm  I  "  he  grunted,  with  a  slight  start,  as  he  stooped 
low  to  examine  it.     -  H'm  !     Him  no  bear  !  " 

"  What  is  it,  then  ?  " 

"  Him  man's  foot." 

"White?" 

''  No.     Injun." 

••  How  old  is  the  sign  ?  " 

"'  Half-hour,  mayl)e." 

Here  was  intelligence,  to  be  sure,  of  a  decidedly  unpleas- 
ant character. 

While  they  had  been  building  their  camp,  discussing 
iheir  plans,  roaming  about  the  woods,  dark  forms  had 
been  flitting  to  and  fro  among  the  shadows  of  the  fore.st, 
within  a  stone's  throw.     Glistening  eyes  had  been  watch- 


I   ! 


50 


TIIK  RED  MOUXTAiy   OF  ALASKA. 


\ 
i 


ing  thorn,  probably  witb  looks  of  hate.  For  a  friendly 
band  Avould  have  advanced  at  once,  where  the  party  of 
whites  was  so  evidently  a  harmless  one,  with  its  fonr 
boys  and  one  middle-aged  man. 

The  two  guides  now  held  a  short  consultation,  and,  on 
Mr.  Button's  return  to  camp,  they  darted  into  the  woods. 

The  hour  spent  before  their  return  was  one  of  extreme 
anxiety.  The  boys  knew  nothing  of  their  father's  appre- 
hensions, and  chatted  merrily  over  the  supper-getting, 
which,  in  the  absence  of  the  guides,  they  took  into  their 
own  hands. 

If  the  Takheesh  Indians,  in  the  boidei's  of  whose  coun- 
try they  now  were,  should  take  the  warpath,  they  were 
greatly  to  be  feared.  Their  tribe  had  been  foully  treated 
l)y  the  traders,  and.  though  few  in  lunnbers,  the  Alaska 
Indians  are  known  to  be  amoiiL!;  the  fiercest  and  most  im- 
placable  of  their  r;;ce  when  their  evil  passions  are  once 
roused.  And  if  there  was  danger  to  his  own  party,  what 
of  the  other,  near  by,  containing  his  brother,  wife,  and 
daughter  ? 

While  these  thoughts  were  chasing  one  another  through 
^Ir.  Button's  troubled  mind,  Joe  returned,  and  shortly 
afterward  his  conu'ade. 

The  information  they  brought  was  not  reassuring. 
They  had  struck  the  trail  of  the  strange  Indians,  they 
said,  in  several  parts  of  the  surrounding  forest,  and, 
though  they  did  not  come  upon  the  band,  the  guides  were 
pretty  sure  that  they  were  encamped  just  beyond  a  little 


::^^ 


.I.V    rXSEEX   EXEMV. 


61 


ridge,  about  two  miles  southwest  of  Camp  Prospect. 
Tliey  had  probably  been  startlod,  Joe  intimated,  by  the 
report  of  Rob's  gun. 

The  boys  by  this  time  had  been  acqujiinted  with  the 
sitiiation.  and  the  faces  of  the  company  were  clouded. 

'•'  Well,"  said  Mr.  Button,  at  last,  '■  we  won't  try  to 
cross  a  bridge  befori'  we  come  to  it.  The  Indians  will  not 
dare  to  attack  us  to-night,  while  we  are  all  in  camp,  nor 
are  they  fond  of  roaming  the  woods  after  dark.  We'll 
take  turns  keeping  guard,  however,  and  while  one 
watches  the  rest  .shall  sleep," 

It  was  still  so  earlv  in  the  evening  that  no  thoughts  of 
sleep  could  be  entertained  for  an  hour  or  two.  Mr.  But- 
ton was  determined  that  his  boys  should  not  worrv  awav 
their  chances  for  a  night's  rest.  He  therefore  pro[)osetl 
telling  stories  until  bedtime. 

••  That  is,"  said  he.  with  a  good-natured  slap  on  Joe's 
broad  shoulders,  "I  don't  mean  to  do  all  the  talking 
myself.     You  can  begin,  old  fellow." 

The  Indian's  dark  eyes  lighted  up.  Taciturn  as  he 
was  on  ordinary  occasions,  he  was  renowned  auioiio-  his 
comrades  as  a  recounter  of  marvellous  tales  and  hair's- 
breadth  escapes.  Joe  was  a  good  story-teller,  and  he 
knew  it. 

As  full  of  airs  as  a  young  lady  who  is  asked  to  play, 
and  •'  has  left  her  nuisic  at  home,"  Joe  coun-hed  and 
smoked,  and  pretended  indifference,  but,  after  the  proper 
amount  of  urging,  raised  himself  upon  elbow  instead  of 


!  I 


■^•: 


^w — ^" 


l» 


oli 


TJIK  RED  MOLWTAIN   OF  ALAHKA. 


squatting  in  tlic  traditional  Indian  fashion,  and,  having 
n'[)lL'ni.siiL'(l  his  pipe  (which,  however,  soon  dii-d  out), 
began  as  follows.  I  do  not  attempt  to  spell  out  his  pecu- 
liar dialect,  or  indicate  the  expressive  grunts  and  gut- 
turals which  served  <is  punctuation  marks. 

••  About  ten  years  ago,"  he  said,  ••  T  was  guiding,  near 
Fort  Churchill,  with  my  brother,  John  Feathertop." 

•'  1  didn't  know  you  had  a  brother,  Joe,"  interrupted 
Nat. 

••  Dead  now."  remarked  the  narrator,  laconically, 
then  resumed  his  story. 

••  We  started  out,  one  fine  morning,  from  the  fort,  and 
by  the  end  of  the  next  day  reached  a  lake  about  thirty 
miles  away,  where  the  fishing  was  good. 

•  Two  men  —  white  men  —  were  with  ns.  They  were 
from  a  big  town  in  the  States — New  —  New  —  " 

'•  York  ?  "  suu'gested  Rob. 

••  That's  it.  They  paid  us  well,  and  were  full  of  fun. 
On  the  lake  we  had  two  u'ood  canoes,  hidden  in  the  bushes 
at  different  points.  John  and  I  soon  found  one  of 
them,  drew  the  paddles  from  a  hollow  log  close  by,  and 
started  across  the  lake  for  the  other  canoe. 

'"  We  paddled  straight  across  a  wide  bay.  in  a  north- 
east direction,  took  our  Ijearimxs  from  a  bunch  of  rocks 
just  al)ove  water  (there  were  half  a  dozen  guU's-nests  on 
them,  and  the  hirds  flew  up  slowly  as  we  paddled  past)  ; 
then  worked  up  to  a  point  heavily  wooded  with  black 
growth,  and  John  landed. 


ft'  'i 
■    1-   "i 

; 
J 

1 


AN    UNSKKy    KNKMY 


5a 


"  Pretty  soon  1  heard  a  squirrel  eliatter,  ;iii(l  right 
afterward  a  bird  sound,  like  this." 

Her(!  Joe  imitated  ])retty  closely  the  long,  plaintive 
whistle  of  the  hermit  thrush. 


"we   STAItTKI)   ACROSS   THE    LAKE. 


The  boys  nodded  to  their  father,  to  show  that  they 
recognized  the  notes  ;  and  Joe  gravel}'  proceeded. 

"  I  knew  then  that  something  was  out  of  the  CDmmon. 
and  that  John  apprehended  danger  ;  otherwise  he  would 
not  have  called  me  at  all.  or  would  have  sung  out  my 
name.     The  squirrel  and  the  bird  meant  "  trouble  —  come 


liW 


rA 


Till-:   II hh   MOIWTAI.X   OF  ALASKA. 


quick,  but  carefully.'  If  the  bird  had  sung  lirf  "  would 
have  meant,  •  Stay  there  ;   I'm  coming  back.' 

••  I  mswered  the  bird  call,  and  stepped  out  of  the  canoe, 
pulling  it  up  a  little  on  a  big  rock.  Then  I  went  into 
the  bushes  and  found  John. 

••  lie  was  standing  near  an  old  i)ine  stub  that  had  been 
our  landmark  for  the  second  canoe.  It  ought  to  have 
been  just  six  paces  from  that  stub,  in  a  little  overgrown 
run.  covered  with  brush.  The  fir  and  spruce,  with  a  few 
white  cedars,  grew  so  thick  along  the  edge  of  the  run 
that  nobody  woidd  have  found  the  canoe  withe  •  hard 
hunt,  and  ;i  hint  as  to  its  hiding-place.  Nol)oay  in  the 
world  knew  of  that  place  but  John  and  I.  77ic  canoe 
was  (jo}iey 

Joe  paused  impressively,  havhig  dropped  his  voice  to 
its  lowest  gutturals  in  pronouncing  the  two  words, 
"  Canoe  gone  !  "  — and  looked  around  the  lirelit  circle  of 
faces  to  observe  the  effect. 

The  result  of  the  survey  proving  satisfactory,  he 
lighted  his  pipe  anew  with  a  blazing  twig  from  the  camp- 
lire. 

'•  But  that  wasn't  the  worst  of  it,"  he  continued,  more 
solemnly  than  ever.  '•  There  wasn't  the  faintest  sign  of 
any  stranger  there.  Not  a  track  showed  in  the  earth 
between  that  spot  and  the  lake.  Not  a  twig,  as  far  as 
we  could  see  in  any  direction,  was  broken  or  bent ;  even 
the  boughs  that  had  been  thrown  over  the  run  were 
absolutely  undist u rbed . 


ir|i 


<i|ntniHP)iliri|i,iiii>a.;;,-i  ^ 


.t.V    I  \SKEy    ILWEMV. 


i),i 


"  Simply,  the  canou  was  not  there.  Tn  i-oine  inystorioiis 
way  it  had  l)eeii  drawn  out  from  its  hidiug-phice,  and  liad 
totally  di.sai)})eare(l. 

"I  said  there  was  no  track.  Stop  —  there  was  one. 
John  pointed  it  out  after  we  had  heen  there  a  minuti'. 
It  was  a  mere  touch  on  the  moss  —  so  li_s>ht  as  hardly  to 
bend  down  the  soft  tops  —  yet,  here  and  there,  plainly 
enough  marked  when  once  we  had  found  one,  were  the 
prints  of  i  child's  or  a  young  girl's  foot.  The  strange 
part  of  it  was  the  lightness.  We  found  one  spot  where 
she  or  it  had  stepped  fairly  on  a  piece  of  soft,  muddy 
soil.  Vs  I  live,  masters,  the  print  was  not  half  a  day  old, 
and  was  not  so  deep." 

Joe  measured  off  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  on  his 
tlunnb-nail.  Nat  crept  more  closely  to  his  father,  and 
glanced  over  his  shoulder.  There  was  always  something 
uncanny  about  Joe's  stories;  and,  indeed,  Mr.  Button 
began  to  repent  having  called  for  the  performance  on  this 
particular  night. 

"  Hurry  up,  Joe,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  get  to  the  point 
of  }'our  story.  What  made  the  tracks  around  the  run  ? 
Some  light-footed  Indian  squaw,  I  suppose  !  " 

''  No  squaw,"  replied  Joe,  with  dignity.  '•  Track  too 
ver'  light,  you  see." 

But,  as  I  said,  I  will  not  try  to  give  the  story  in  Joe's 
peculiar  dialect.  Here  is  the  rest  of  it,  translated  into 
English. 

"'  We  could  make  nothing  of  the  tracks,  and    pretty 


Mi 


I 


^ 


66 


THE  liEI)  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


'U 


soon  we  paddled  hack  to  eaiiip,  after  liaving  searched  the 
])oint  over  for  the  iiiissingf  canoe.  Not  a  siii-n  of  it  could 
we  find. 

'•  When  we  returned  to  our  two  hunters,  they  laughed 
at  us,  hut  were  angary,  too,  ))ecause  thev  had  ])ut  one 
canoe  to  lish  from.  Only  one  of  them  could  go  out  at  a 
time. 

'•  We  took  a  few  trout  in  the  lake,  hut  the  fish  did  not 
rise  well,  and  after  a  couple  of  days  we  pushed  on  to  a 
small  })ond  five  miles  ahove. 

"  It  was  all  white  water  between,  so  we  had  to  carry. 
It  took  five  trips  to  get  across,  for  it's  the  hardest  carry 
in  all  the  north  coinitry. 

"The  last  time  we  took  the  canoe.  It  was  rather 
heavy  for  that  stjie  of  ci'aft.  and  there  was  one  ])oint. 
just  opposite  a  big  waterfall  in  the  river,  where  it  iiad  to 
be  lu(2;si;ed  straight  uphill  for  fiftv  rods  or  more. 

''■  John  and  I  got  underneath,  and  the  New  York  men 
pulled  on  a  I'oju^  hitched  round  the  ])Ows. 

"  It  Avas  a  hard  tug.  hut  we  goi,  there  at  last. 

"  We  built  a  brush  camp  pretty  near  the  shore  of  the 
upper  poild.  and  laid  out  for  a  fortnight's  stay  at  least. 
There  was  deer-sign  in  tlie  woods,  and  if  the  rises  in  the 
])ond  at  sunset  meant  anything,  they  meant  all  tiie  fisii 
we  could  eat.  and  mor(\  too. 

'•  Well,  sir.  if  you'll  believe  me.  we'd  no  sooner  got 
settled  down  in  cami)  than  evervthing  began  to  u:o  wrong 

*"  John  cut  his  hand  that  very  night  mending  a  leader. 


KM 


m m 


mmmvmK  ■ 


■:';S*t««6S 


AN    rysEEN  ENEMY.  57 

SO  he  could  hardly  hold  a  paddlo.     One  of  our  blankets 

VI  I'/'Viif/  I .'""    ^^^^^  '^  ^'^^^  \mn\t  m  it  the  next 

^JlJ       kl,\wj^:     "loi'wing;  our  best  rifle  missed 

''  '""^?%fc''  /  ■     caribou  in  easy  range  ;  it  I'ained 

-^3v||h       "'"'^^  '^"^^  ^^''»^  broiling  hot 

^^  wL  '*^'*    ^y  turns ;  and  at  last  John, 

through  chunsv  i)add]in<->- 

"^--■^VW  ,,         With   his   lame    liand, 

"^iytJ^'i^i"'^         *^"  to  a  I'ock.  near  tlie 


"'*^\- '■;./('/,,   outlet,  and  iiui  a  licle 
throuuii  tlu'  l)irch. 


s   no  use. 


we  am'eed.  he  and 
I.  *  tlie  tri])'s  1k> 
witched.  What- 
t  ver  it  Avas  that 
took  that  canoe  has 
sent  us  l)ad  luck.' 

••  Then  we  re- 
nienibei'cd  an  old 
story  of  liow  an  in- 
nocent Indian  girl 
was  shot  by  trap- 
pers in  that  region  years  before  ;  sliot  because?  some  skul!" 


■■\^ 


^-  ri'ini,!.    Wn|;K. 


-^.:*«Tr!«i,.^; 


58 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


ing  cliap  in  her  tribe  had  stolen  a  pelt  or  two,  and  these 
fellows  wanted  to  square  the  account. 

'•  John  shook  his  head,  and  said  he  believed  the  spirit 
of  the  girl  was  abroad  in  the  woods,  and  would  be  the 
death  of  us  if  we  didn't  go  ont. 

'■  He  wanted  to  tell  the  two  gentlemen  abont  it,  but  T 
told  him  they'd  laugh  at  him,  and  we'd  better  wait  a 
while  before  doing  anj'thing. 

••  •  irm;  said  John,  •  if  we  want  to  go  back,  who  can 
hinder  ?  ' 

••  •  You'd  have  to  go  alone;  said  1.  '  for  I  won't  leave  a 
party  I've  once  taken  into  the  woods,  spirit  or  no  spirit.' 

'•  That  night  one  of  our  two  masters  was  taken  with 
fever  and  chills,  tliough  he  had  been  perfectly  well 
an  hour  before.  John  looked  hard  at  me  as  we  sat  by 
the  fire,  l)ut  1  pretended  not  to  see  him. 

"  Next  morning  tlu^  poor  gentleman  was  rather  worse 
than  better.  Part  of  the  time  he  was  out  of  his  head, 
and  kept  raving  about  somebody  he  thought  was  tr\  ing 
to  drown  him  in  the  canoe. 

■•  'Donf  tip  it  over  I  Dont  tip  it  over  ! '  he'd  cry,  in 
the  mo.-t  awful  way,  starting  u})  and  then  sinking  back 
with  a  choking  sound  as  if  he  w^ere  going  under  water. 

■•  As  soon  as  I  got  a  chance  1  called  Jolni  out  into  the 
brush  a  bit. 

••  -John.'  said  T,  •  I  had  a  queer  dream  last  night.' 

"  •  So  did  1,"  said  he.  quietly. 

"  •  I  dreamed  1  found  that  canoe.' 


BV>l*MMNMPmwm^^f3.i, 


'-'^■■i  --'^■>^i^ 


I 


ti^**SSfe 


^I.V    rxSEEX   KNEMr. 


69 


'' '  It  was  phiced  across  two  flat,  inossy  rocks,  and  in  it 
was  the  body  of  a  young  squaw — ' 

"  Before  John  had  time  to  .siy,  '  So  it  was  ! '  (as  I've 
no  doubt  his  dream  was  exactly  the  same  as  mine)  we 
Avere  called  to  hold  the  sick  man,  who  was  now  quite  out 
of  liis  head,  and  nuittering  strange  things  that  nobody 
but  John  and  I  understood. 

"  He  grew  quieter  after  a  while,  and  slept.  The  other 
gentleman,  Avorried  and  troubled  as  he  was,  took  his 
rilie  and  started  round  the  sliore  of  the  lake  for  game. 

••  Before  long  I  heard  the  crack  of  his  piece,  and  not  a 
minute  later  a  doe  dashed  past  the  camp. 

'•  Her  tongue  was  out,  and  I  could  see  that  she  was 
wounded  ;  but  she  was  out  of  sight  with  three  bounds. 
As  she  went  past  us  she  half  turned  her  head,  and  gave 
me  one  swift  look  from  her  big,  frightened  eyes.  Vm  an 
old  hunter,  sir,  but  I  declare  to  you  I  never  had  a  deer 
nor  a  living  animal  look  at  me  so  before.  I  found  <•) 
single  red  spot  on  a  green  leaf  in  her  tracks,  after  she  had 


gone. 


"This  was  at  about  noon.  The  master  came  back 
more  tired  and  anxious  than  ever.  As  soon  as  dinner 
was  over,  he  wanted  me  to  go  and  hunt  up  that  doe. 

'•  Generall}-,  I'd  want  no  better  job,  for  I  know  by  the 
way  she  ran  that  she  was  shot  to  death,  and  I  wouldn't 
have  to  go  far.  But,  sir.  I  hated  to  go.  Fd  have  taken 
John,  but  he  said  he  must  stay  in   camp  and  gum  that 


1   "V 


no 


THE  RED    ^rorXTATy   OF  ALAsh.]. 


leak   ill    the  old   eaiioe   belorc  dark.     1  left  liiiii   irottins 
his  guiii  and  some  bark  to  burn  and  sear  with. 

••  Well,  it  took  lonirer  than  I   thou<j|it   it  would.     For 
upwards   of  three    miles   1    tramped    through    the    l)laek 


"I    .-^HDULDKHKU    1 HK    tANUK.' 


growth  to  the  head  of  the  pond,  following  the  trail,  which 
wasn't  the  easiest  to  kcej)  in  sight.  There  wasn't  a 
broken  Hull)  or  even  a  bent  brake;  and  on  the  ground 
scarcely  a  track,  shf  was  so  light. 


':iS»*i^m 


.1,V    rysKKX    ILXEMV. 


61 


"  Tlic  siui  was  well  down,  aiul  it  was  getting  pretty 
sLadv  in  the  woods  when  1  struck  a  plain  carry,  made  by 
traders  in  old  times,  from  the  head  of  the  pond  to  a  chain 
of  lakes  and  a  post  beyond. 

"  After  following  this  about  a  hundred  rods,  I  came  to 
a  standstill.  A  small  sheet  of  water  was  just  in  front  of 
me  ;  but  what  T  noticed  most  was  a  lot  of  big,  mossy 
rocks  along  the  shore.  They  were  the  very  rocks  that  1 
had  seen  in  my  dream  ! 

'•  And  there,  sir,  not  quite  as  T  had  dreamed  it,  but 
pulled  up  a  little  across  the  opening  of  the  carry,  was  the 
lost  canoe. 

'•  I  came  up  to  it  with  a  creeping  all  over  me,  from 
head  to  foot.  I  knew  what  I  should  find  there,  even 
before  I  saw  the  patch  of  soft  brown  and  white  over  the 
edge  of  the  canoe. 

"  There,  just  as  she  had  stumbled  and  fallen,  in  her 
last  feeble  eit'ort  to  reach  the  water,  lay  the  beautiful  doe, 
the  blood  still  flowing  from  the  fatal  bullet-hole.  She 
was  quite  dead. 

''  Perhaps  you'll  laugh  at  me,  sir,  when  I  tell  you  I 
didn't  cut  her  up  ? 

"'  1  took  her  out  easy,  and  laid  her  on  the  moss,  out  of 
sight  of  the  carry.  She  was  a  small,  slender  thing,  and 
lifted  easy.  I  threw  some  brush  over  her,  and  shouldered 
the  canoe,  which  was  not  so  large  as  the  one  we  had 
brought  with  us  from  the  first  lake,  and  in  five  minutes 
was  paddling  down  the  lower  pond  as  if  all  the  spirits  of 
the  forest  were  after  me. 


m 


^ii 


62 


TIIK  UED  MOCMAIN    OF  A).  A  SKA. 


[ 


"  At  last  1  came  in  sight  of  John  Feathortop.  just 
putting  tlio  last  touchos  on  tlie  bottom  of  the  damaged 
canoe,  and  then,  1  confess,  for  the  iirst  time  I  breathed 
freely. 


"  JOHN  WAS   PUTTING   THK  LAST   TOUCHES    ON." 

••  The  gentleman  asked  me  where  the  doe  was,  but  I 
took  no  notice,  and  he  supposed  I  felt  bad  at  not  iindlng 
her,  so  he  said  nothing  more  about  it. 

"  The  next  day  the  sick  min  was  well  enough  to  move, 


AN    UXSEEN  EXEMY. 


G3 


and  we   all   started   for   home,   althouo-li    tlie    two    New 
Yorkers  wanted  to  stay  and  finish  their  sport." 

''  Wliy  did  tliej  go  out,  then  ? 

''Because  tliey  could  not  stay  witliout  guides.  And 
both  guides  refused,  quietly  and  respectfully,  but  lirinly, 
to  spend  another  day  in  that  locality. 

"We  got  out  in  safety,  with  the  exception  of  the 
lighter  canoe.  That  we  left  behind.  Why  ?  Because  it 
had  carried  the  dead:  because  the  dead  had  claimed  it ; 
because  it  belonged  to  the  dead. 

''John  Featliertoj)  and  I,  as  well  as  Jim  here,  were 
poor  enough  :  but  tiiere  wasn't  money  enough  in  all  the 
Vluihr  i"s  Bay  territory  to  hire  us  ever  to  visit  that  lake 
au'ain.  ' 

As  Joe  concluded  his  story,  with  a  furtive  glance  at 
the  staring  eyes  about  hiui,  a  loon  in  the  lake  helow 
suddenly  made  niglit  hideou.s  with  its  maniac  laughter. 

Mr.  Diitton  could  feel  little  Nat  shiver  in  his  arms. 


if 


CHAPTER  V. 


RAFT-BUILDIXG. 


■     - 


il 


Ni 


T  was  plain  that  Joe's  story,  instead  of  quieting 
the  boj's,  as  their  father  had  intended,  had 
wrought  them  to  a  high  pitch  of  nervousness, 
which  would  have  to  relax  before  sleep  visited  the  little 
camp  by  the  headwaters  of  tlie  Pelly  that  night. 

"'Now,  boys,"  he  exclaimed  in  his  clieery,  whok^some 
tones,  that  of  themselves  began  at  once  to  put  to  flight  the 
imaginary  terrors  of  the  night,  "  /'m  going  to  tell  you  a 
story.  The  difference  between  mine  and  Joe's  is,  princi- 
pally, that  mine  is  true  !  " 

Joe  withdrew  his  pipe  from  his  lips,  and  gazed  reproach- 
fully at  Mr.  Dutton ;  contented  himself  with  a  shake  of 
his  head,  at  the  idea  of  his  veracity  being  questioned ; 
and  began  to  puff  again  at  his  tobacco. 

'"  That  is,"  added  Mr.  Dutton,  changing  his  position  in 
the  tent  so  as  to  rest  more  easily,  and  at  the  same  time 
face  the  boys,  "  the  main  facts  are  true.  It's  about  a 
severe  cold  snap  that  took  place  in  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
not  long  ago." 

Thereupon  he  proceeded  to  narrate  the  following  story, 

64 


RAFT-liUILDlNG. 


0.") 


giving  the  negro  dialect  with  such  excellent  effect  as  to 
make  the  boys  laugh  heartily  at  some  points,  and  to  bring 
tears  to  their  eyes  at  others. 

Lex  had  been  Ijusy  all  day.  partly  in  efforts  to  keep  out 
from  under  customers'  feet,  partly  in  running  errands. 
When  he  turned  away  from  the  store  at  night,  and  started 
for  home,  he  was  very  tired. 

'•'  Hi :  "  chattered  Lex.  as  he  pattered  along  the  side- 
walk, "ain't  dis  yere  cold,  jes' !  " 

It  was  cold,  and  was  growing  colder.  The  sun  had 
muffled  itself  in  a  bank  of  clouds,  as  it  hurried  off  to  a 
warmer  climate,  turning  a  very  cold  shoulder  indeed 
upon  Lex  and  his  surroundings.  As  soon  as  the  sun 
was  well  out  of  the  way.  presto!  up  dodged  the  sly 
breezes  that  had  kei)t  quiet  since  ntorning,  and,  spying 
the  black  hoy  on  his  way  home,  made  for  him  with 
eager  glee. 

They  could  not  do  nuich  with  his  hair,  to  be  sure,  it 
curled  so  tightly  and  closely  to  his  round  head ;  but,  to 
make  up  for  that,  they  pinched  his  ears,  and  pulled  off 
his  tattered  hat.  tweaked  his  fingers  and  toes,  whooped 
and  hallooed  at  him,  and  threw  dust  in  his  astonished 
I)luck  eyes,  vmtil  he  felt  as  if  he  were  in  the  paws  of  a 
sort  of  great  Polar  tiger,  playing  with  him  cruelly  and 
I)reathing  on  him  from  her  icy  jaws. 

So  the  wind  kept  on  blowing,  harder  and  harder,  and 
the  mercury  in  the  thermometers  sought  to  hide  itself  in 


t 

8 

t 

i 

i^ 

li 


66 


TUE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


their  bulbs,  until  the  very  light  of  the  moon  above  the 
chimney-tops  seemed  to  come  down  frozen. 

Colder  and  colder  it  grew.  In  the  North,  people  would 
not  have  been  surprised  at  it,  but  Atlanta  folks  were  not 
used  to  such  cold,  and  it  took  them  by  surprise. 

George  Alexander  Jackson,  or  '••  Lex,"  as  he  was  called 
for  short,  hurried  along  till  he  reached  a  small  cabin  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  citv,  and,  slannnimi;  the  door  behind 
him,  stood  shivering  before  the  stove,  whose  firelight, 
shining  out  between  the  bars  in  front,  fell  pleasantly  on 
the  floor,  and  danced  all  about  the  white  kitten  who 
blinked  sleepily  at  Lex. 

'•  Well,  Tiex,  got  home  f'ni  yo'  wo'k  agin,  ain't  ye  I  " 
said  a  stout  black  woman,  cheerih',  coming  up  to  him  and 
drawing  his  woolly  head  to  her  motherly  bosom.  ••  Po' 
little  boy  !  He's  done  run  all  d'  way  home,  —  now,  ain't 
ye,  honey  ?" 

Lex  bobbed  his  head,  and  squirmed  with  the  cold. 

"  Dar.  dar,  chile,  you  jes'  stay  right  in  mamm^-'s  arms 
till  ye  get  wo'm  an'  comf'ble.  Reckon  'twon't  be  so  cold 
ter-morrer.     An'  de  Lo'd  will  pervide  !  " 

Chloe  Jackson  was  one  of  the  old  slaves  who  had  -  got 
religion,"  as  her  master  had  sneeringly  said.  Truly  she 
had  "  got "  it,  firmly  enough,  and  not  even  her  freedom 
in  these  later  days  was  so  precious  to  her.  To  Lex.  re- 
ligion as  yet  meant  mostly  —  •'mammy,"  and  he  would 
have  been  as  nmch  alarmed  had  she  stopped  using  Scrip- 
ture phrases  as  if  she  had  stopped  breathing. 


liAFT-HUILhlM; 


67 


A  comfortabhf  sense  of  warmth  stole  tlirougli  Lex's 
sturdy  little  frame,  as  he  watched  his  mother  goiii^-  alntut 
the  room  in  iier  preparations  for  supper.  On  the  table. 
bare,  but  clean,  were  set  three  i)lates  of  dilferent  sizes, 
and  ni  varied  stages  of  repair ;  a  small  teapot,  a  plate  of 
hoe-cakes,  and  a  cracked  mug  full  of  a  dark  licpiid  that 
Lex's  critical  eye  told  him  was  molasses. 

A  cuj)  and  saucer  for  Chloe  herself  completed  the  tea- 
set,  and  Lex  was  told  to  take  his  place  beside  his  mother 
and  sister,  the  latter  being  a  year  or  two  younger  than 
himself.  His  father  had  gone  (piietly  away  to  another 
country  live  years  before,  leaving  his  poo.-  black  eai'th- 
clothes  in  the  little  burying-ground  outside  the  city. 

"Be  quiet,  chilluns !  "  said  (Jhloe,  softly,  raising  her 
hand.  Then  she  proceeded  to  say  grace  — rather  longer 
than  common.  Lex  thought,  snifHng  the  hoe-cakes  with 
his  eyes  shut. 

■'  0  Lo'd,"  she  concluded,  her  voice  beginning  to  trem- 
ble strangely,  ••  bress  dese  yere  chilluns!  0  cban  fergit 
yo'  brack  chilluns.  what  yo'  led  outen  de  wild'ness.'^O 
Lo'd,  an'  don't  let  dese  yere  little  ones  freeze  wid  cold,  or 
die  fer  want  of  food,  an'  doan.  0  Lord  — Amen." 

Lex  looked  up.  surprised  at  her  abrupt  close,  and  caught 
sight  of  two  big  tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks. 

'•O  mammy:  mammy.'  what  ye  done  cry  fer?"  he 
begged,  laying  his  head  again  on  her  shoulder.  ••  What 
makes  y' ask  Mass.  Lo'd"  (she  never  could  break  him  of 
sayinir  thai 


It)  ••  ter  keep  us  f'm  fr 


eezni 


i)  >) 


(18 


TiiK  iiKi)  MoryiAiy  of  Alaska. 


r 


i    h 


■'■■| 


I,  I 


'•Dar,  cliilc'."  ^hv  said,  almost  sliarply,  "(loan  ye  go  ter 
axiiT  (iiR'stions.  I)c  LoM  an"  I  done  got  two  er  I'roe 
secrets  wiiat  pickaninnies  nins'n  know  niif'n'  'bout.  You 
Jes'  eat  yo'  suppei'  an'  he  quiet." 

His  tliougiits  diverted  for  a  few  minutes  by  this  last 
suggestion.  Lex  busied  himself  with  his  bread  and 
molasses.     Then  he  asked.  — 

'•  Mammy,  wlio  was  it  you  read  'bout  in  de  Bible  dat 
got  fo'  or  live  t'ousand  hoe-cakes  f'm  a  flock  of  crows?" 

••  Laws-a-me.  jes'  hear  him  I "  cried  mammy,  an  ill- 
suppressed  chuckle  of  fun  driving  the  anxiety  out  of  her 
face  for  a  moment.  ••  'Twas  meat,  meat,  chile,  what  deui 
birds  bro't   to  'Lijali." 

••  An'  would  dey  brung  meat  to  us,  mammy,  ef  we  wus 
mightv  hungry  ?  " 

"•  1  reckon  so.  honey,"  said  Chloe.  with  a  sweet  look  of 
faith  in  her  honest  eyes.     "He's  neve    fergot  us  yit." 

So  Lex  was  satisfied,  and  returned  to  his  post  by  the 
fire.     Presently  he  looked  up.  with  a  little  shiver. 

"Mammy,  please  put  some  mo'  wood        «'    fire.  ' 

Mammy  glanced  up  cpiickly,  then  to  the       lall 

stove,  and  stirred  the  brands  togethei  ,  ''  th'  >    crackled 
and  blazed  again. 

"  Lex."  she  said,  quietly,  '•  I'm  gwine  out  fer  a  little 
while.  You  an'  Bess  stay  here  an'  'have  yerselves  till  I 
git  back." 

Without  further  words,  she  drew  a  faded  shawl  over 
her  head,  and  went  out  into  the  bleak  night. 


,.6i 


liAFT-BVILDlSC. 


69 


It  was  Inlf  an  hour  or  more  before  she  came  h-M'k. 
She  kept  lier  shawl  about  lier  till  she  had  sent  the  chil- 
dren out  of  the  room  on  an  en-and.  then  dei)osited  upon 
the  tloor  a  few  sticks  of  wood  sli  ■  had  brought  in.  When 
they  returned,  she  was  replenishing  the  fire. 

"  'Pears  colder  'n  ever,"  she  said.  '•  You  chillun  'd 
better  go  ter  bed  now." 

And  they  went,  curling  up  in  a  heap  of  straw  and 
under  a  patched  quilt  in  one  corner  of  the  hut. 

"Are  ye  sho  de  crows  will  come,  mannny?"  yawned 
Lex.  as  she  tucked  the  ragged  edges  of  an  old  blanket 
around  him. 

"  Sho'.  honey,"  she  replied,  heartily. 
"  An'  could  —  dey  —  brung  —  wood  ?  "  —  but  Lex  was 
too  sleeky  to  wait  for  an  answer. 

It  will  be  long  before  the  Atlanta  people  forget  the 
night  of  January  20,  18—.  The  bitter  wind  which 
only  a  few  weeks  before  had  urged  a  conflagration  to 
do  its  fearful  work,  until  a  whole  citv  seemed  UKJuntino- 
to  heaven  !.:  a  chariot  of  fire,  now  with  icy  coldness  crept 
in  noiselessly,  to  counteract  the  efforts  of  the  very  element 
it  had  so  lately  helped. 

In  th.i  night  Lex  had  a  curious  dream.  He  thoutdit 
he  saw  1  is  mother  creep  softly  into  the  kitchen,  and  bear 
the  old  pine  table  out  of  the  house.  Then  there  seemed 
to  come  a  cracking  noise,  and  presently  the  firelight  shone 
out  merrily  through  the  little  bars,  and  Lex  felt  warm 
and  comfortable.     Mammy  stayed  by  the  stove,  occasion- 


m 


70 


rilK  RED   MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


t 

I' 


ally  throwing  in  bits  of  wood,  until  his  dream  carried  him 
el  sew  lie  re. 

The  next  morning  Lex  was  waked  by  hearing  Bess 
crying  softly  beside  him. 

••  What's  de  matter,  Bess  ?  "  he  asked,  sleepily. 

'•  J'se  s-so  cold  I  "  she  sobbed,  cuddling  up  close  to  Iinn. 

But  mammy's  ears  had  caught  the  sound  too.  and  she 
was  beside  her  little  black  lambs  in  a  monuMit,  coverinu' 
them  with  the  shawl  she  had  worn  the  niuht  before.  As 
she  did  so.  Lex  felt  something  soft  and  warm  between 
him  and  IJess.  It  was  the  white  kitten.  It  struck  Lex 
as  strange  that  the  white  kitten  should  prefer  his  bed  to 
the  floor  underneath  the  stove,  where  she  was  usually 
found  on  other  mornings.  At  that  same  moment  he 
ol)S('i've(l  that  the  steam  was  not  pulling  from  the  tea- 
kettle, .i-  was  its  wont. 

'•  Wli-what's  de  matter  wid  de  stove,  mammy?"  he 
stannnered.  rubbiufj;  his  eves. 

"  Doaii  V(ju  l)odder  vo'  lujad  'bout  dat  ar  stove,"  said 
Chloe,  with  great  cheerfulness.  '•  I  jes'  let  de  fire  go 
down  a  little  ]>'fo'  lu'eakfas',  dat's  all." 

••  U-but  — whar's  de  table  V" 

Chloe  turned  her  head  away  at  first,  without  answer- 
ing. Sh(>  had  loved  the  little  four-foot  taltle,  at  which 
she  and  her  husband  had  sat  so  often,  and  it  had  been  a 
sore  sacritiee  to  burn  it  up.  But  she  had  all  her  mother- 
hood stirred  in.  defence  of  her  children.  She  fought  the 
cold  as  if  it  had  been  a  living;  thin";. 


RAFT-BUILDING. 


71 


Just  then  Bess,  catching  the  look,  gave  a  little  miser- 
able wail  of  distress  and  cold. 

At  that  cry,  the  fierce  light  that  sometimes  comes  into 
the  mild  eyes  of  her  race  flashed  in  Chloe's  as  she 
crouched  by  the  little  heap  of  straw,  and  glanced  ner- 
\ously  about  the  room. 

There  were  only  two  wooden  pieces  of  furniture  that 
had  survived  the  demands  of  that  night ;  an  old,  broken- 
legged  stool,  which  her  husband  had  brought  from  the 
plantation,  and  which  had  always  been  specially  set  apart 
l"'-  liini ;  and  a  small  shelf,  high  up  on  the  opposite  wall, 
oil  which  were  laid  a  worn  Bible  and  hymn-book. 

Chloe  rose,  hesitated  a  moment,  then  stepped  across  the 
room,  swiftly  reached  up.  au<l.  taking  the  two  books  from 
their  re.sting-place,  laid  them  carefully  and  reverently 
upon  a  tew  wisps  of  clean  straw,  in  a  corner  of  the  hut. 
Next,  she  gave  the  shelf  a  wnMich  tliat  brought  it  down 
^vIth  a  cloud  of  dust,  and.  witbout  pausing.  — as  if  she 
were  afraid  <,f  repenting.  _  opened  tbe  st,.ve-door  and 
thrust  in  the  fragments  upon  tbe  glowing  In-ands. 

All  these  proceedings  Lex  and  Bess  and  the  white 
kitten  watched  with  intense  interest,  and  witb  very  dubi- 
ous faces.  Bess  no  longer  cried,  but  had  hard  work  to 
I<".T  h.-r  lip  from  quivering.  Kitty  jnit  out  one  daintv 
I'aw.  shook  it  as  if  she  had  dipped  it  into  cold  water, 
'•urled  up  again  in  Lex's  bo.som,  and  made  a  brave 
attempt  to  purr. 

Lex  privately  thought  it  might  be  al)out  time  for  the 


72 


rUE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I 


ravens.  It  coiufortecl  liiiii  a  little,  he  hardly  knew  why, 
to  think  that  thev  would  be  black,  like  himself  —  these 
t'hosen  messengers  from  heaven.  He  was  cut  short  in  his 
reflections  by  mammy. 

'••  Fse  gwine  out  again,"  she  said,  m  a  queer  voice  Lex 
had  never  heard.  "  I'se  gwine  out  ter  git  somefin  far  ye 
ter  burn  an'  ter  eat." 

"'  But  dem  — dem  crows,  mammy  ?  " 

'*  I'se  gwine  ter  look  fer  'em."     And  she  was  gone. 

"  Meblje  dey  mout  'light  down  round  de  house,"  medi- 
tated Lex.  ''  I'll  jes'  keep  de  cat  inside  de  do',  any- 
ways." 

This  time  it  was  an  hour  before  Chloe  returned,  weary, 
footsore,  slow  of  speech,  benumlicd  with  cold.  She  had 
left  the  shawl,  vou  see.  over  little  Bess. 

In  her  pocket  she  brought  a  few  chips,  two  bits  of 
coal,  and  a  fragment  of  bread-crust.  With  the  remains 
of  last  night's  supper,  for  which  she  had  used  the  last 
cnuiib  of  provisions  in  the  house,  the}'  made  a  meagre 
breakfast.  The  children  were  not  allowed  to  get  up.  so 
they  did  not  miss  the  tal)le  so  nnich. 

Still  the  ravens  did  not  come.  Chloe  dra^ri^ed  hersrlf 
out  once  more,  and  returned  —  empty-handed  I 

It  was  Sundav,  and  the  church-bells,  in  the  wealthier 
part  of  the  citv,  ranji;  nu^rrilv.  But  conureu'ations  that 
morning  were  small.  Tliose  whose  conscience  permitted 
them  to  do  .so  stayed  at  home.  The  lower  streets  were 
thronged  with    poor  people,  crying    for  bread  and   fuel. 


K-^ 


RAFT-BUILDING. 


73 


The  little  wliite  kitten,  and  many  other  kittens  that  day, 
white  and  black,  mewed  piteously  for  the  meat  the  ravens 
did  not  bring. 

"  Mammy,"  said  Lex,  "  I'se  pow'ful  hungry.  Doan  y' 
t'ink  it's  'bout  time  fer  'em  ?  " 

The  three-legged  stool  had  gone  long  ago.  Mammy, 
•  her  brave  heart  battling  against  the  numb  despair  that 
was  creeping  over  her,  laid  her  poor  rough  hand  on  the 
boy's  head,  and  sang  :  — 

"  Oh,  my  way's  cloudy  — 
My  way  — 
Oh,  send  dem  angels  down." 

"Mammy!"   Lex  suddenly  broke  out,   with   a  sharp 
cry.  '•  was  dat  'Lijah  white  ?  " 

Poor  mammy!  Perhaps  if  she  could  have  had  an 
image  of  Elijah's  swarthy  face  as  it  nuist  really  i.ave 
looked,  she  would  have  been  comforted.  As  it  was.  she 
was  fain  to  lay  her  tinger  on  the  child's  trembling  lips, 
and  go  on  singing. 

In  the  west  the  sun  glowed  in  all  its  mockery  of  red 
light,  like  a  painted  furnace  in  a  frame  of  ice.  The 
wind.  —  ah.  that  remorseless  wind  !  —  springing  up  again, 
blew  out  the  last  spark  of  fire,  and  thrust  itself  through 
the  wide  cracks  in  the  little  hut. 

Still  mammy  sat  stiffly,  forming  the  words  with  her 
lips ;  — 

"  Send  deiu  angels  doAvn,  — 
My  way's  clo-o-udy  —  " 


I 


74 


Tin-:  men  moiwtaix  of  Alaska. 


i  i 


'•  Mammy,"  moaned  Lex  Once  more,  "  'pears  like  dein 
crows  lost  dar  way,  'r  else  dey  doan  come  to  no  brack 
folks.  Daij  dky  is!"  he  shrieked  out,  all  at  once,  jump- 
ing to  his  feet  and  almost  upsetting  mammy,  who  raised 
lierself  more  slowly  and  listened. 

Yes  !  it  was  a  low,  heavy  rumble  of  wheels  oyer  the 
frozen  ground.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  came.  Chloe  darted 
to  the  door.  They  were  stopping  —  two  l)ig  wagons,  one 
loaded  high  with  wood,  the  other  with  baskets  of  provis- 
ions of  every  sort  conceiyable.  The  driver  was  a 
wealthy  lesident  of  Atlanta,  well  known  throucrhout  the 
city,  and,  doubtless,  throughout  heaven,  ion.  (iod  bless 
liiiii  ! 

So  the  rayens  had  come,  and  Chloe  and  her  little  ones 
knew  no  more  want  that  winter.  The  next  morning  the 
following  telegram  quivered  over  the  wires  to  the  great 
Northern  newspapers,  in  the  files  of  whicli  you  can  find 
it  if  you  look  :  — 

'•  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Jan.  27.  The  severe  weather  of  the 
past  week  caused  great  suffering  among  the  poor.  On 
Saturday  it  was  learned  that  hundreds  of  poor  women 
and  children  were  huddling  around  their  last  burning 
stick  of  wood,  and  the  Constltitt'wn  of  Sunday  morning 
made  an  ap]ieal  to  the  citizens  to  send  to  the  paper 
money,  provisions,  and  fuel,  wdiich  would  be  distributed 
by  its  business  department. 

'"  At  noon  there  were  gathered  together  about  sixty 
wagons,  containing  wood  and  provisions.  Merchants 
worth  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  took  their  places 


UAFT-UUILDIJSG. 


75 


as  drivers,  oacli  with  a  wood-wagon  and  a  provision- 
wagon  nnder  liis  charge,  and  started  on  a  tonr  of  th(» 
city,  working  all  day  until  nightfall. 

"All  day  the  Constitution  othce  looked  more  like  a 
military  supply  depot  than  a  newspapei-  office.  Hundreds 
of  sacks  of  flour,  coffee  and  sugar,  sides  of  meat  and 
hams,  and  on  the  sidewalk  cords  of  wood  were  seen,  while 
the  streets  were  full  of  people,  clamorous  for  relief.  No 
distinction  was  made  in  the  distribution  in  regard  to 
color." 

Who  shall  say,  boys,  that  men  are  not  still  about  their 
Father's  business  ? 


When  Mr.  Button  concluded.  Nat  was  already  yawn- 
ing, and  the  relie^-ed  expression  of  the  other  boys'  f^.ces 
showed  that  their  pulses  were  beating  calmly  once  more. 

''  Now."  said  the  father,  "  we'll  go  to  sleep." 
^  It  was  easier  to  say  -  sleep"  than  to  do  it,  after  all. 
Never  did  a  night  seem  so  long  to  the   ])oys  as  they  lay 
huddled  together  in  the  tent.     Perhaps  little   Nat,  now' 
that  he   had   recovered   from    his    nervousness,   was    the 
l>rayest  of  all.     He  said  his  prayers  composedly,  took  off 
his  jacket,  and  lay  down  in  the  tent  with   perfe^ct  trust 
in  l)oth  his  heavenly  and  his  human  father,  feeling  very 
sure  that  he  would  be  well  taken  care  of  until  morning. 

Mr.  Dutton  watched,  rifle  across  his  knee,  until  twdve 
o'clock.  Then  he  called  Rob.  who  kept  guard  till  two. 
The  guides  relieved  him.  and  he  slept  heavily  for  the  next 
two  hours. 


76 


THE  JtEI)  MO ry TAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I 


i 

1 


At  four  o'clock  the  wliole  camp  was  astir.  Mr.  Dutton, 
wlio  had  decided  upon  a  definite  course,  gave  his  orders 
quietly.  First,  a  good  breakfast,  in  whicli  hot  coffee  and 
Rob's  rabbit  played  a  prominent  part.  It  was  wonderfid 
how  much  better  they  all  felt  after  this.  Teddy,  rein- 
forced by  a  huge  lump  from  the  savory  stew,  declared 
liimself  ready  to  tight  "  ivery  Injun  in  Alashky." 

No  alarm  had  been  given  during  the  night,  and  all 
were  alert  for  the  day's  work. 

Already  the  terrors  of  the  dusky  evening  twilight 
seemed  a  thing  of  the  past. 

"•  The  first  thing."  said  Mr.  Dutton,  cheerily,  as  they 
rose  from  their  meal,  '•  is  to  find  some  good  large  logs 
floating  in  the  lake.     Half  a  dozen  will  do. " 

••  There's  a  lot  of  them  down  there,"  said  Hugh,  point- 
ing.    "  I  crept  out  on  them  yesterday  when   I  was  fish- 


nig. 


••  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  them,  papa  ?  "  asked 
Nat. 

••  T  think  it  best  that  we  should  finish  our  journey,  if 
possible,  on  a  raft,  though  it  will  take  all  day  to  make 
one.  We  should  be  lialjle  to  lose  our  way  by  shore,  and 
I've  noticed  that  the  undergrowth  of  Ijushes  and  deep 
moss  is  growing  nuich  more  troublesome  as  we  approach 
the  coast." 

••  But  how  about  the  Indians  ?  " 

•'  If  they  are  really  hostile,  we  shall  be  safest  on  our 
raft,  for  then  thev  cannot  reach  us  without  coming  into 


RAFT-iniLDlNG. 


77 


full  view.  Yes,  by  all  means,  it  is  best  to  take  to  the 
water." 

'•  To  the  water,  then !  "  cried  Robert,  seizing  an  axe, 
and  starting  for  the  point  indicated  by  Hugh. 

'•  To  the  water  !  "  echoed  all,  and  a  general  stampede 
toward  the  lake  would  have  followed  had  not  the  leader 
checked  it. 

'•  Wait  :  wait !  "  he  called  out,  laughing.  ••  There's 
work  here  for  some  to  do.  Nat,  do  you  straighten  out 
all  the  pieces  of  cord  you  can  find  in  the  packs.  Thev 
must  be  used  for  fastening  the  cnjss  pieces  together. 
Hugh,  you  may  busy  yourself  about  camp.  Take  down 
the  tent,  to  begin  with,  and  pack  it  up  for  transporta- 
tion." 

"  But,  father.  I  thought  you  said  we  should  stay  here 
another  day.     Sha'n't  we  need  the  tent  —  ?" 

••  Another  da}-,  my  boy,  but  not  another  night  I  No, 
we  shall  take  the  •  night  boat,'  and  before  sunrise  to-mor- 
row we  nuist  be  thirty  miles  from  here,  if  it  can  be  done." 

Mr.  Button  now  dispatched  the  two  guides  into  the 
woods,  to  reconnoitre.  Tiiey  joined  him  shortly  afterward 
at  the  water's  edge,  and  reported  all  quiet ;  no  new  signs 
of  the  enemy. 

How  those  axes  did  flash  through  the  air !  Branches 
were  lopped  off  from  the  fallen  trees  where  it  was  neces- 
sary, but  for  the  most  part  they  had  been  broken  or 
rubbed  away  in  the  wild  rush  they  must  have  recently 
made  from  their  native  heights,  in  the  current  of  a  glacial 


THE  RED  MOUyTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I       1 

I 
I 


I    I 


torrent.  The  ends  of  four  of  the  largest  logs  were 
notched,  and  the  big  timbers  '•  saddled "  on  each  other. 
Then,  although  they  lay  quite  firmly  together,  they  were 
lashed  with  stout  cords.  Two  other  pieces  were  saddled 
across  from  side  to  side  in  the  same  way,  at  even  distances 
between  the  ends  of  the  oblong  raft,  and  on  these  four 
cross-pieces  was  laid  a  dry,  compact  floor  or  deck  of 
logs,  running  lengthwise  of  the  raft,  and  secured  by  notch- 
ing and  tying  at  the  outside  corners.  It  was  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening  when  the  last  log  was  fastened  in 
its  place. 

The  day  had  passed  without  a  visit  from  the  savages, 
but  there  had  been  an  indication  of  their  presence  which 
had  disturbed  Mr.  Dutton. 

About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  a  light  column  of 
thin  blue  smoke  had  been  seen  to  ascend  from  just  beyond 
the  ridge  before  referred  to.  Within  three  minutes  a 
similar  smoke  arose  from  a  hill-top  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  lake.  Then  both  disappeared.  It  was  plainly  a. 
signal.  It  looked  as  if  the  natives  were  gathering  in 
force.  Perhaps  it  was  not  a  band  of  Takheesh  after  all. 
but  some  strange,  unknown  tribe  from  the  interior,  far 
more  savage  and  uncivilized. 

Supper  w^as  eaten  in  silence. 

"  Now,"  said  Mr.  Dutton,  quietly,  '•  we'll  rest  an  hour 
or  two  under  the  mosquito  tent." 

The  netting  had  been  left  out  for  this  especial  purpose, 
and  the  whole  party  crawled  under  its  meshes,  thankful 


JiAFT-nUILDISa. 


79 


to  stretch  themselves  out  on  their  blankets  for  even  that 
short  time. 

They  had  clone  little  during  tlie  day  except  hard  work, 
standing  half  the  time  up  to  their  knees  in  water,  while' 
the  mosquitoes  were  buzzing  in  swarms  around  their 
lieads. 

Hugh  had  taken  half  a  dozen  trout,  and  Robert  liad 
shot  ca  green-winged  teal. 

At  just  half  past  ten  o'clock  Mr.  Button  gave  the  si.r. 
nal  for  rising.  They  rubbed  their  stiff  and  weary  limbs, 
and,  one  by  one,  scrambled,  yawning,  to  their  feot. 

"  Do  up  the  blankets,  boys.  Jc,(..  is  the  raft  ready  ? 
Have  you  got  the  poles  on  board,  and  the  mast  ri.ro-ed 
with  the  braces?"  °° 

'^Yis." 

"Now,  Kob  — that's  it,  take  everything  with  vou,  and 
scatter  tiie  fire  a  little.     Good-bye,  Camp  Prospect ! " 

They  stepped  on  Imrd  tlieir  rough  craft,  and  the  three 
men  took  positions  with  tlie  long  push-poles  Joe  had 
provided. 

''  Now,  then  ;  otf  she  goes  !  " 

And  off  she  went,  away  from  tlie  4hnt  shore,  toward 
the  middle  of  the  lake. 

A  gentle  breeze  was  l)lowing  from  the  east.  Mr.  But- 
ton spread  the  cotton  tent  in  such  a  way  as  to  shelter  the 
younger  boys,  and  at  the  same  time  help  their  progress 
a  little  as  a  sail.  From  the  time  they  left  the  shore,  'they 
spoke  in  low  tones,  in  order  not  to  apprise  any  lurkin.r 


HO 


'////•;   II K I)   MOUNTAIX  OF  ALASKA. 


i 


•■   ;.l 


H 


' 


ciieiiiv  of  their  depart  lire.  In  tliis  way  tliev  moved  slowlv 
hut  steadilv  on  tlieh'  course  down  tlie  hike,  tlie  litth' 
\va\.  s  ripprniu,'  against  the  sides  ol"  the  raft,  and  a  start  led 
(^Htu-k!  now  and  tlien  het raving  the  presence  of  a  (hiciv 
j)a(Mling  al)out  in  tlie  water. 

It  was  now  near  niiihiight,  but  they  were  so  far  north 
tluit  they  couUl  have  read  a  newspaper  easily  had  such  a 
coniincjdity  been  furnishe(l  l)y  the  Alaska  press. 

Tlie  mosquitoes  were  so  voracious  that  tlie  "  skeleton 
tent  "  Avas  ])itched  on  tlie  raft,  and  atl'orded  intense  relief 
to  those  of  the  crew  who  could  be  spared  to  take  refuge 
under  it. 

Hugh.  Nat,  Teddy,  and  Carlo  were  the  fii'st  to  take 
advantage  of  the  netting,  and  in  live  minutes  all  four 
were  fast  asleep,  Nat's  head  resting  lovingly  on  Carlo's 
black  fur. 

Robert  came  over  to  his  father's  side. 

"Where  are  you  aiming  for,  father?  How  far  do  vou 
expect  to  go  ?  " 

••  M  the  traders'  and  travellers'  stories  are  correct,  this 
lake  is  about  a  dozen  or  fifteen  miles  long,  by  an  ayeraue 
of  three  wide.  At  the  foot  of  it,  the  river  Pelly  starts  in 
a  series  of  rough  but  not  dangerous  rapids.  I  studied  this 
all  out  at  home,  for  I  could  .see  that  we  were  likely  to 
trayel  on  or  beside  the  river,  from  its  source  to  its  union 
with  the  Yukon  proper." 

''  And  do  you  expect  to  cross  those  rapids  to-night, 
sir?"  asked  Robert,  in  amazement. 


llAFT-llllLlHSa. 


SI 


-Tdo,     said   Mr   Dutton,   (innly.     ^.  About  ton   nuh-s 

froM.  tla-hMW.  Ih.  riv.r  wMons  into  .  sn.all  poM.l.  whiH. 
'•"•^^'""^-"ri.sl   M.l.     On  that  islan.l  w.  shall  can.,.- - 

••I-"'l<.fatlM.r.whatis,haf.'-inh.m,i„,.,l  Iloh.  .aovrly. 
•■It  looks  jiko  a  man  swiiiiininu'.      Isn't  if.'" 

A  n.o.nent's  sc-rntiny  and  a  sind.-  ..u.-stion  to  th. 
guides  explained  tlu,  tnu-  (.haracf.T  of  th.  swinnn.,-  It 
^yasnotanlndianorauhii,.  nun.  What  th.v  saw  was 
S3mph  the  hoad  of  a  larg.-  hhu-k  hear,  swinnnin^  aeross 
at  the  narrowesi  pai-t  of  the  lake. 

HolHTt  wa>  ,vov,.  to  g.,  out  his  Winchester  and  shoot 
^''"  ^^'""'■•^J'  'H"  i">  fall.,.,,  said  no.  II.  did  n„.  da.v  „, 
h'-e  a  gun-  lest  he  .should  put     he  natives  on  thei,-  ..ua.-d 

'•  Bes,d(>.s."  he  .said.  -  we  <3o„ld  not  po.ssihiv  .se.Mnv  cMth.p 
ly-ass  or  ski,..  a..d  wc  ,^.ust  no,  join  the  la,^ge  aianv  of 
thmio-htless  people  who  take  a,.i„,al  life  •  for  fnn.""     ^ 

The  he:,,-  look,.,!  neither  to  ,-,Vht  nor  left,  hnt  swan,  o., 
">..!  presently  they  saw  hi,,.  <|rag  himself  out  of  the  wate,- 
-lid  fh.sap,)ear  in  the  foicst. 

Th<"  raft  ha.l  now  tn.-ned  the  hend  of  the  ho.-.sesl.oe 
and  was  iu.iding  no,-thw..st.  The  east  wind.  d,-awinc-  in 
--'•-Hhehigh    hills    I    have  already  spoken   of.on^he 

-nthern  sho.-e  of  the  lake,  was  still  slightly  astern,  and 
IH-Ipcd  the  ,-aft  so  that  th(.  poles  were  not  u.sed. 

They  now  d,vw  near  the  opening  which.  th(>v  could 
plainly  see.  mark(>d  the  exit  of  the  Pelly  Kiver.  Ah■ead^■ 
they  could  hear  the  rush  of  th.  '-rip"  waves,  where  tlu- 
h-Tce  cnr,-ent  contended  with  the  eternal  rocks 


82 


Till-:   llEl)   MOVSIMS   OF  ALASKA. 


niinip  I  Mciit  till'  nift  on  a  huge  houldor.  Carlo 
Itccaiui!  uneasy,  and.  getting  out  somehow  i'roni  under 
the  nios(iuito  eanopy.  advanced  gravely  to  the  forward 
end  of  the  raft. 

'riiunii)  I  went  the  raft  again.  Still  it  kept  the  main 
<']iannel.  and  was  not  ai)preciably  the  worse  for  wear. 

A  sort  of  steering  oar  liad  l)een  arranged  for  this 
craft  l)_v  the  hoys,  and  hy  a  diligent  use  of  this,  as  well 
as  the  push-poles,  no  great  damage  was  done  to  the  vessel 
tir  i)assengers. 

Presently  the  raft  heuan  to  run  more  smoothly.  She 
was  i)assing  swiltlv  down  between  the  sha'^')wv  hanks  of 
the  Pclly.  i)icturesque  and  grand  hy  daylight,  hut  solemn 
and  awc-insjiiring  in  the  dim.  hrown  dusk  of  the  northern 
niu'ht.  Overhead,  a  thick  hank  of  tog  was  stealing  across 
the  sky.  c(3ncealing  stars  and  moon. 

Still  on  the  raft  rushed.  Strange  shapes  seemed  to 
thi'ong  the  hanks.  The  hoys  thought  they  could  see 
huge  t'lks.  gigantic  serpents,  even  lions  and  tigers,  along 
tlie  shore.  These  were  but  the  ghosts  born  of  darkness 
and  iuuigination. 

They  hoped  now  that  they  were  well  beyond  their 
unwelcome  and  un.'^een  visitors  of  the  night  before.  Cer- 
tainly no  Indian  war-party  could  have  kept  up  with  them 
had  they  started  on  shore  at  the  same  time.  The  only 
danger  was  that  .some  roving  band  of  Takheesh  had  been 
warned  by  that  column  of  blue  smoke  that  a  raft  was 
going  down  the  ra})ids  .«!Oon. 


'•STILL    OX    TJIK    KAir    I'USIIKl). 


liAVT-nrii.insc. 


S.) 


••  HIvorv  foot  is  cloar  <i:;iin."  said  Mi'.  Dullon.  ••  W.' 
imist  1)1'  getting  prett\-  well  down  to  tlif  little  lake  wliciv 
I  iiitciul  we  slmll  eaini).  I  Itelicvc  tlicic  ww  soiiir  light 
rip  just  hcforc  we  reach  there,  hut  I  think  we've  got  o\.i' 
ti"    worst  ol"  —  " 

A  startled  gi'uut  from  Joe.  wliu  was  at  the  forward  end 
of  the  raft,  interi'uptcil  liini. 

••  What  is  it.  hoy  V" 

.loi'  ))ointed  ahead,  and  at  the  same  nioniont  Carlo  gavo 
a  sharj).  angry  yeljt. 

In  tlie  dim  light  could  he  seen  a  row  of  dark  ligures 
stretclied  entirely  across  the  stream,  ahout  three  hundred 
yards  helow  thorn.      JJeyond  a  douht  they  wuM'e  Indians. 

In  i)rofound  silence  the  raft  swept  forward,  with 
its  tremendous  momentum,  and  in  another  moment  it 
was  u])on  them. 


CHAPTKR    VT. 


■|iii;<'r(.ii   nil-;  i;.\i:my  .s   lines. 

N    citcliiiiLi-  siLiiit   of  tlio  shad- 

owv  line  of  ciiciiiio.  str(  iciicd 

;icr(is>  t lie  i'i\cfiii  tlic  direct  j)inli 

III'  the  swiftly    iiioviuii'   r;ifl.  Mr. 

Diittdiis   lirsl    imimlsc   had   hccii 

to  x'i/.c  his  rifli'.  whicli  was  fully 

tjiariicd  with    rcscisc  cai'tridiL^os, 

ami  w  as  closi' at  hand,     'riit'iiiuc 

was  so  short    that    he  had  Ii.ii'clv 

an  o|H)orHmity  to  cuck  the  j/u'ce  befofc  the  xoyauci''^  were 

in    the  \(>ry  midst    of   the  iiaiid    of  TiK.lians.  who  crowdctl 

ahoiit    the    I'afl.    and.    lialf    wadinii'.    half    lloatinu'   dowii- 

s!ivani   with   the  chnnsv  I'uft.  Ix'uan  iiru,inLi  it  towai'd  the 

riil'lit  hank  of  the  fiver. 

iM'fort'   any    of   thcni    conld   dinih   upon    the    raft.   Mr. 

r)iitton   diseharn'e  1   his   rille   into   the  air;  at    exactly  ihe 

siiiie  moment  Carlo  u.a\'e   a    liei'ce   vdi).  and   Tedd\'.  who 

h)r  the  liist  time  reali/.ed  the  condition  of  affairs,  ntterecl 

an  nnearthly  liowl  of  dismay. 

At  the  rejtori  (d'  the  rifle,  the  natives  f(dl  luick   ui  con- 

m 


riiiiOUGU  Tin-:  kxhmvs  li.xks. 


«7 


stenKition,  piittiii^^  tlioir  hands  to  tlicir  cars;  and  the 
apparition  of  tho  hni^o,  shag>;_v  NcwI'onndland.  together 
with  Teddy's  outcry,  put  a  climax  to  tlicir  fright.  Tum- 
hling  and  s})hisliing  in  the  water,  tliey  made  for  the 
sliore.  and,  hefore  the  Buttons  fairly  knew  what  had  liap- 
pened.  the  river  was  as  silent  as  a  grave,  save  for  the 
rushing  of  the  nniddy  waters  ai'ound  the  I'ocks  and  the 
protruding  logs  of  the  raft. 

'•Out  with  your  poles,  hoys  I  Push  for  your  lives  — 
they  may  he  hack,  or  send  tlieir  arrows  after  us  at  any 
minute  I  "  cried  the  leader,  seizing  one  of  the  long  poles, 
and  suiting  the  action  to  the  word. 

The  raft,  which  had  already  touched  hottom.  now  ulided 
()!'f  into  deeiK'r  water,  and  soon  was  swinging  down-stream 
without  interru])tion.  save  an  occasional  thuuij)  ujiou  ,i 
hidden  l)oulder.  For  half  an  hour  the  vo\a«n'  continued 
in  perfect  silence,  Nat.  Hugh,  and  'iVd  .sleeping  rpiietly  in 
their  tent,  and  the  attention  of  the  rest  heing  conc(>ntrated 
on  keeping  the  raft  in  the  channel.  Once  i  grounded  on 
a  sandhar,  hut  the  two  Indians,  leaping  into  tlie  water 
and  standing  waist-deep,  succeeded  ui  heaving  it  oft. 

At  length,  to  the  intense  relief  of  all.  the  river  hegan 
perceptildy  to  wide.i.  The  hanks  hecanu;  more  and 
more  oh.scure  in  the  mi.sts  of  earlv  morninu'.  The  sneed 
of  the  raft  slackened,  and  the  poles  now  and  then  failed 
to  touch  hottom.  Beyond  a  douht.  they  were  (mierging 
into  the  hroad  lake  to  which  they  had  heen  anxiously 
looking  forward  throughout  the  long  niirht. 


88 


rilK   liKI)   MOrSTM\   OF  ALASKA. 


I? 

I* 


As  file  (lavliglit  grew  hriglitcr.  tlicv  could  soon  iii;ikc 
out  a  low.  wooded  island  ahead.  'lowanl  this  thev 
moved,  and  ere  long  the  logs  grated  on  the  ])ol)bles,  some 
half-dozen  rods  IVom  shore. 

Again  the  Indians  entored  the  water,  but.  like  the 
raven  from  the  ark.  this  time  tiiey  did  not  return.  Thev 
disappeared  for  a  few  moments:  then,  having  explored  a 
small  bit  of  the  rocky  island,  came  running  back,  not  to 
climb  on  board,  but  to  drag  and  push  the  raft  a  few  yards 
neai-er  the  shore. 

Carlo  plunged  into  the  water,  and  swam  like  an  otter 
to  the  island.  Nat.  Hugh.  Hoi),  and  even  Uv.  Button 
himself,  were  carried  ashore  ou  tlu'  stout  shoulders  of  tho 
guides.  It  remained  oidy  to  bring  Teddy  ;  but,  t 
bod 


o  everv- 


y's  surprise,  that  valiant  youth  refused  to  set  foo<- 


on 


dry  land. 


Sure,  T'ni  safer  on  the  raft,"  1 


le  sai( 


.     "  ril  not  be 
sojers."     So  he 


going  into  the  woods  again  till   I  see  the 
was  left  to  guard  the  ship. 

Blankets  and  tents  were  landed,  a  roaring  fire  made, 
and  soon  the  whole  party  were  soiuid  asleep. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


OUT    OF    THE    i'I!VI\f;-rAX. 

OUR  frionds  sli-jjt  well  tliat  iiiiilit, 
—  or  iiioi'iiiiiM'.  rather. —  it  was  ten 
o'clufk  Ix'foro  tliccaiiip  was  fairly 
astir.  Teddy  hcgoi-d  to  cohh.  asliore 
at  last,  and  coiiiplaiiUMl  I»itU'i'l\  of 
the  "  imiskaytci's.""  who.  h<-  said, 
made  sucli  a  iiuisc  ahoiit  Ids  ens 
tliat  li(!  was  awak(  all  the  tiiiiu  he 
was  slee[)iiiir. 

Jim  waded  out  to  tli(3  raft  to  hriui.-  liiiii  in.  Tlie 
Indian  was  ohserved  to  stoop  and  examine  si.niething 
closely  mar  tli(3  ei.d  of  one  of  the  logs.  11(.  hi'ouuht 
Teddy  to  land  on  liis  hack,  and  then  handed  .Mi  Dm  ton 
a  fragment  of  a  peculiar-shaped  arrow,  which  h,>  v,id  lu' 
had  fonnd  sticking  in  the  raft. 

••  What  do  yon  make  of  it.  Joe?"  asked   Mr.  fHirton. 
The  two  Indians  examined  the  ugly-looking  sliatt   nar- 
rowly, and  exehangtHl  a  few  guttural  n-marks  in  their  own 
tongue.     Jim  gav.>  tiie  verdict,  laconicallv,  as  usual. 


Ayan  moose  arrow 


80 


90 


THE  i:Ki>  Mar  SIMS  or  .i/..isa-.i. 


'•  Then  it  was  not  a  wai-  party  tliat  we  saw?"  ex- 
cljiiiiicd  I  lie  leader.     The  arrow  is  pictured  bolow. 

"No.      Hunt." 

'•  IJut  will)  or  wliat  are  tlie  Ayans  V  " 

'•  Injuns  round  liei'e."  said  Joe.  witli  a  sweep  of  liis 
arm.      "•  No  Taklieesh  yit." 

Ml-.  Dutton  was  greatly  gratified  at  tliis  information. 
Till'  Itaiid  they  had  come  upon,  then,  was  simi>ly  a   hunt- 


AYA.V    MOUM.;   AltUoW. 


iiig-partv  of  river  Indians,  who  wen^  prohahly  attracted 
to  the  travellers  by  curiosity.  When  tin*  gu'.i  was  lired. 
oi' aftei'  the  Indians  had  reached  the  .<liore.it  was  likely 
that  one  or  two  arrijws  had  heen  discharged  at  the  fast 
disai)i>earing  I'aft.  No  ti'onhle.  then,  was  to  he  ap])re- 
lieiidtMl.  after  all. 

They  were  making  lei.surely  preparations  to  l)n*ak 
camp  once  more,  when  a  slight  splashing  in  the  lake 
caused  Teddy,  who  was  nearest  the  water,  to  glance  up 
from  his  work.  .\  wild  howl  of  des])air  hroke  from  Ins 
li])s.  Mr.  Dutton  s})rang  to  his  fee?,  aud  folhtwed  the 
horrified  gaze  of  the  Irish  lad:  a>^  he  did  so.  his  heart 
.sank. 

No  less  than  a  dozen  small  rafts  were  flocking  around 
the  corner  of  the  i.><land.  bearing  at  least  twice  that  num- 


OUT  OF   I'llK   IUYIS<;~I'AX, 


n 


IxT  of  hidoously  painted  and  lu'dcckod  Indians.  If  was 
l'«'Ily  t.)  resist.  Grasping  his  rill.,  lirmlv.  Mr.  Duttu,, 
stood  oroct,  and  awaited  tii.'ir  a|.proacli.  Tin-  rest  of 
tli«"  j)arty  followed  his  exanii)le.  even  Ted  being  rooted  to 
tile  s]»()t  by  Utter  terror. 

The  new-eoniers  did  not  seem   in  a   hurry  to  land,  but 

l''"l<ll.'d  and  pushed  their  rafts  along  slowly  toward  shore. 

On.-  |.arti,Milarly  ugly-looking  old  fellow,  alone  on  a    raft, 

was  in  advanee  of  the  rest.      As  m.ou   as   he   came  within' 

.-iH-akingdistane...  hr  utf(Mvd  a  loud  harangue  in  a  jargon 

whi<;h   neither   whitr  men    nor  guides  eould    un<lerstand. 

The  won!  ••  Ayan  "  was  reptsited   several   times,  ami  Mr. 

Dulton   gathered,  after  a    whih-.    that   the    stranger   was 

introducing  himself. 

The  native's  ne.xt  move  was  to  push  his  raft  in  until  it 
grounded,  an.l  then,  looking  ovr  his  >houlder  to  see  that 
liis  rompanions  were  following  closely.  h(^  gathered  up 
Jiis  \^nx^^  marmot-skin  blanket,  and.  stepping  into  the 
wat-r.  waded  solenndy  ashore.  Th."  other  Indians  had 
bo\\>.  and  airows.  but  tl 


iulhu'ni'e  in  the  tribe 


ns  one.  who  was  clearlv  a  man  of 


now  ad\an(cd  with  arm.s  out; 


'«•  show  that  he  was  unarmed 

••  What  in  tlie  world  does  the  old   fell 
UMiivd  Tludi. 


pread, 


ow  want  ?  "  nuir- 


Hob 


Probably    inquiring   tl 


le 


in  tl 


way   to    Boston. "   answered 


»e  same  ton^' 


would  do  hii 


Looks  .1-  if  a  little  civilizati 


on 


U    U'OOfl 


The  old  x\yan  halted  at  a  f( 


ew  paces'  distance,  and.  to 


{♦2 


TiiK  i:i:n  MorsTMS  or  .iajn/iM. 


every  one's  siir])rise.  pointed  to  'I'eddy,  at  tlie  same  time 
niakinu'  a  ;^festure  towaiwl  tlie  rafts,  and  moving  liis  jaws 
in  imitation  of  eating. 

The  cold  |»ersi»iration  Ijioke  out  on  tlio  ])0}'s  freckled 
face.      lie  was  al)Solntely  too  frightened  to  speak. 

Tlie  Ayan  chief  stepped  forward  holdly.  and  laid  his 
hand  on  Ted's  shoulder.  This  familiarity,  however,  was 
indignantly  re.><ented  hy  Carlo,  who  houniled  to  the  rescue 
with  a  deej)  growl,  and  douhlless  would  liave  attacked  the 
stranger  had  not  little  Nat  held  him  h)-  the  collar. 

••  I  don't  think  he  wants  to  hnrt  us,"  said  Nat. 
looking  up  with  a  fearless  smile  into  tiu'  dai'k  face  of 
tlie  Indian. 

The  .Vyan's  grim  features  relaxed,  and  he  patted 
Nat's  h(>ad  several  times,  in  token  of  amity. 

:\n  animated  ])antoinime  now  ensued,  aided  hy  the  other 
savages,  who  had  come  ashoi'e.  and  crowded  around  the 
whites  with  intense  but  api)arently  not  ill-natured  curi- 
osity. 

Jt)e.   the   guide,   was  the   first  to   catch   an  inkling  of 


tin  ir  meanuig. 


••  They  want  us  go  visit  village."  ho  interpreted  to  Mr. 

Dutton.     "Have  plenty  eat.     Injun  women  want  to  see 

white  men." 

••  Are  you  sure.  Joe,  they  don't  m(^an  harm  to  us?'' 
'•  No  hnrt.     See.  no  war  arrows  —  uidy  moose.'" 
After  a   short  consultation  with  the   hoys.  Mr.  Dutton 

decided   that    it    would   he  wise  to   accej)t    the    invitation. 


Si 


niT  nr  TllH  rnvixf;  /M  V. 


Of) 


wliicli.  MS  lie  s;ii(l    to    Ilohcrt.  was   like   lli;it    of   n>\altv  — 
ill  «'tVt'(!l.  a   coiiiiiiaiKl. 

Tlic  moment  this  decision  was  mailc  known,  the  Indians 
ponncccl  upon  tlicm  and  carricil  tiicin  to  the  larp'  raft.  In 
an  incn-dilily  sliort  space  of  t  inie  ever\  t  liinu'  was  on  lioard. 
incliidinn'  tiie  passenizers.  Teddy  l»einu'  l>oriie  la>t .  >t  lain- 
gling  L'vory  ste[>  ol'  the  way.  on  the  slK)nlder  of  a  ln'awny 
Ayan. 

A  do/en  savages  now  ga\"  the  raft  a  pusii  that  sent  it. 
ont  into  deej)  water.  'I'he  chief,  wliose  name  was  l.oklok 
(signifying  ••  IJear."  tiiey  afterward  learned ).  accompanied 
tlie  wliites  ;is  ;;n  honorary  escort .  The  small  rafts,  each 
maimed  hy  one  to  three  Ayans.  went  aiiead  to  .^how  tiie 
way.  the  royal  harge.  .so  to  speak,  hringing  up  the  icar. 
In  this  manner  the  whole  Ijotilla  moved  slowly  down  the 
lake,  aided  hy  the  breeze,  which  still  hlew  freshh  from 
the  east. 

'•  ^^ ell.  I  say."  remarked  liiigli.  in  an  interval  of  pol- 
ing. ■•  this  isn't  so  had  !  It  reminds  me  of  the  da\'  when 
the  President  visited  IJostun.  and  the  governor  and  stall' 
turiKMJ  ont  in  haroiiches  to  receive  him." 

••  I  cant  say  that  I  altogether  like  the  looks  of  old 
Governor  Lokh^k.  if  that's  his  name,"  ri'plied  Iloh. 
'•  And  (Jailo  is  of  my  opinion,  it's  ])lain  to  see." 

The  dog  had  never  taken  his  eyes  otl"  the  cliief.  and 
watched  narrowly  every  movement  of  those  dark  legs,  as 
if  he  were  ready  to  seize  them  on  very  slight  provocation. 

••  Oh,  he's  all  right.     It's  only  a  way  the  old  fellow  has. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


I4£  1^ 

5  0    m= 


2.5 


"^       2.0 


Iti 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

'* 6"     — 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^ 


\ 


# 


^V 


:\ 


\ 


^\^ 


^"^".^^^ 


6"^ 


€^  A '"'«' 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


1 


ifM 


96 


TIIE    RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


Ji 
1 1 


1 1 


! 


Ho  ^vantod  Ted  to  go  ahead  witli  liiin.  T  guess,  as  a  sort 
of  saiiipk'."' 

'■  Miicli  as  to  say  ^ve're  going  to  l)o  sold." 

'•  Not  liy  a  good  deal  I  We'll  keep  our  eyes  opeu,  and 
let  'em  have  a  ta'slc  of  Wineliestt'r  sauee  if  they  come  any 
shines  on  us.      IIullo.  here's  the  outlet." 

The  ru.shing  of  waters  could  plainly  lie  heard,  and  pres- 
ently the  raft  shot  down  the  narrow  channel,  where  the 
hanks  were  steeper  than  they  had  yet  seen  them.  The 
ra})ids  were  rougher  than  hefore.  hut  there  was  a  much 
o-reater  yolunie  of  water  than  in  the  ui)per  courses,  and 
they  suffered  no  greater  disaster  than  an  occasional  bump, 
which  would  nearly  upset  them  all. 

One  grave  ol)stacle  which  had  to  he  constantly  avoided 
was  the  occurrence,  at  sharp  1  tends  of  the  river,  of  whole 
clumps  of  dead  trees,  which  had  fallen  where  the  earth 
had  caved  in.  and  now  leaned  out  toward  the  middle  of 
the  river,  with  their  scraggy  branches  only  half  sub- 
mero-ed.  These  had  to  be  dodued  with  great  alacrity,  and 
the  Newfoundland  was  onct'  fairly  swept  off  into  the  ice- 
cold  stream,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  persecuted  Loklok. 

In  some  places  these  fallen  clumps  of  earth  had  left 
huge  caves  in  the  high  banks,  and  the  ice  could  be  seen 
dripping  into  the  stream  beneath.  Now  and  then  the 
party  were  startled  by  a  loud  I'eport  as  of  a  nuisket  ;  not 
for  some  time  did  they  discover  that  the  noises  were 
merely  caused  by  the  breaking  off  and  falling  of  these 
heavy  masses  of  earth,  trees,  and  rocks. 


OUT  OF  THE  FRYING-PAN. 


97 


m 


m 
t 


Anxious  as  tliey  were  concerning  the  future,  the  invol- 
untary visitors  could  not  help  marvelling,  as  they  swept 
down-stream,  at  the  scenery  on  Ijoth  sides  of  the  river, 
which  was  for  the  most  part  bordered  by  high  hills,  heav- 
ily wooded  with  spruce  and  fir.  Along  the  horizon 
stretched  gigantic  foruis  of  the  Rockies  and  their  outlying 
spurs,  ending  in  snowy  summits,  from  which  flowed  enor- 
mous glaciers,  all  m  plain  sight  whenever  the  clouds  were 
swept  aside.  No  wonder  a  recent  traveller  says  that 
"  before  long  we  may  hear  Switzerland  spoken  of  as  the 
Alaska  of  Europe  !  " 

A  commotion  was  caused  by  a  crashing  among  the 
bushes  just  ahead. 

'*  Look  I  "  cried  Hugh,  eagerly.  "  There  comes  another 
Indian,  waving  his  arms  !  " 

'■  Ugh  !  Moose  !  "  grunted  Joe,  after  one  glance  at  the 
object. 

Hugh  was  not  the  first  hunter  in  these  far-away  forests 
to  mistake  the  broad,  spreading  antlers  of  the  moose  for 
the  brandished  arms  of  a  man.  as  they  were  seen  approach- 
ing through  the  low  underbrush. 

The  Indians  quickly  fitted  their  many-barbed  moose 
arrows  to  their  bows.  l)ut  liefore  they  could  shoot,  the  great 
creature  had  caught  the  sound  of  Hugh's  voice,  and  went 
crashing  off  into  the  depths  of  the  woods. 

Seeing  that  Loklok  appeared  much  surprised  and 
excited  by  the  sight  of  the  moose,  Mr.  Button  inquired  of 
his  guides  if  this  animal  was  not  common  thereabouts. 


98 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


The  Indians  informed  liini,  correctly  enough,  that  in 
Al-^.ska  and  the  adjacent  British  possessions  large  game  is 
scarce  in  the  sunnner  time,  being  driven  away  by  the 
dense  swarms  of  mosquitoes,  and  following  the  melting 
snow  line  ap  the  flanks  of  the  mountains. 

By  one  o'clock  Mr.  Button  estimated  that  they  must 
have  made  thirty  miles  from  the  island  where  they  had 
spent  the  night.  Everybody  was  hungry,  and  it  was 
intimated  to  the  chief  that  it  was  time  for  dinner.  The 
old  fellow  looked  black,  but  presently  gave  a  few  sharp 
orders  to  his  band,  who  once  more  plunged  into  the  ice- 
cold  water,  waist-deep,  and  drew  the  raft  ashore. 

While  some  were  building  a  fire,  and  others  producing 
pieces  of  strong-smelling  dried  salmon  for  the  meal,  Hugh 
took,  the  opportunity  to  try  his  rod  in  the  stream,  using  a 
small  red-and-white  fly.  At  the  third  cast  he  had  a 
hungry  rise ;  in  a  couple  of  minutes  a  fine  spotted  gray- 
ling of  perhaps  half  a  pound  weight  was  flopping  about 
the  timbers  of  the  raft.  The  Ayans  were  immensely  im- 
pressed by  the  young  angler's  performance,  and  instantly 
a  dozen  eager  hands  were  stretched  out  beseechingly  for 
the  rod.  Indeed,  the  Buttons  soon  found  that,  while  the 
natives  assumed  a  vast  deal  of  dignity  on  absurd  occasions, 
they  were  not  above  begging  for  every  movable  thing  they 
saw  in  their  guests'  possession.  This  trait  gave  the  latter 
some  uneasiness,  but  Mr.  Button  had  already  made  up  his 
mind  to  give  his  dark-skinned  entertainers  the  slip  before 
daylight  the  next  morning,  if  it  were  possible. 


OUT  OF  THE  FnYI\G-PAX. 


99 


The  meal  dragged  vathei-  slowly,  though  it  was  helped 
somewhat  by  Hugh's  contribution.  The  mosquitoes  were 
now  reinforced  by  a  kind  of  small  black  fly,  much  like 
those  of  tlie  Rangeley  Lakes  and  Adirondacks,  and  their 
attacks  became  so  determined  thjit  the  voyagers  were 
y;lad  to  be  on  tlie  move  once  more. 

After  an  hour's  progress,  tlie  light  rafts  of  the  Ayans 
began  to  forge  ahead.  One  l)y  one  tliey  disappeared 
beyond  a  bend  of  the  river,  until  the  larger  craft  w^as  left 
to  itself. 

"  It's  a  temptation,"  said  Robert,  r{'flectivel3%  eynig 
the  morose  chieftain,  '•  to  give  this  old  chap  a  good 
ducking  in  the  river,  and  leave  hiin  to  shift  for  himself." 

"  Don't  disturb  him  in  anv  wav,"  cautioned  his  father, 
earnestly.  "  Our  safety  lies  in  his  friendliness  toward 
us.  We  are  unicli  outnumbered,  and  so  far  from  our 
friends  that  if  our  whole  party  were  massacred,  no  one 
outside  the  tribe  would  know  of  it." 

Joe,  the  guide,  was  plainly  of  his  employer's  opinion, 
for  he  took  from  his  pocket  a  small  piece  of  tobacco,  and 
offered  it  to  the  chief. 

Loklok  seized  it  eagerly,  and  popped  the  precious  mor- 
sel into  his  mouth,  as  if  to  make  sure  of  it.  There  are 
no  two  commodities,  Joe  knew,  so  dear  to  an  Alaskan 
native  as  tobacco  and  tea. 

It  was  of  no  use  to  ask  an  explanation  of  the  sudden 
disappearance  of  the  Ayans,  for  '-The  Bear"  could  not 
understand  a  word  of  English.     The  far-off  bend  in  the 


( 


100 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


liver  was  reached  in  due  time,  and  the  raft  swung  heavily 
round  in  the  swift  current.  All  were  occupied  in  keeping 
it  clear  of  the  rocks,  when  a  loud  exclamation  from  Lok- 
lok  caused  them  to  look  up  from  their  work.  The  chief 
was  standing  at  liis  full  height,  his  blanket  drawn  around 
his  shoulders,  and  an  expression  of  patriotic  pride  on  his 
wrinkled  face,  as  he  majestically  pointed  ahead. 

A  glance  showed  the  reason  for  this  sudden  change  in 
Loklok's  demeanor.  On  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  about 
an  eighth  of  a  mile  below  them,  a  long  line  of  Indians 
was  drawn  up,  with  faces  turned  eagerly  toward  the  raft. 
Others  ran  wildly  up  and  down  the  shore,  gesticulating 
and  screaming  frantically.  Mr.  Dutton  involuntarily 
tightened  his  grasp  upon  his  rifle,  while  the  boys  clustered 
in  the  bows  of  the  raft  to  gaze  at  the  strange  scene. 

Loklok  alone  was  unmoved,  save  by  pride  in  the  array 
before  him.  A  rope  was  now  carried  ashore,  and  every 
Ayan  rushed  for  it.  including  women  and  children,  pull- 
ing away  until  the  raft  grounded  with  a  bump. 

The  moment  it  was  made  fast,  the  line  of  Indians  com- 
menced a  low,  monotonous  noise,  which  was  evidently 
intended  for  singing.  At  the  same  time  they  placed  their 
arms  akimbo,  and  swayed  from  side  to  side  in  a  kind  of 
dance,  their  lonsji;  hair  swino-iny;  to  and  fro. 

At  a  word  from  '-The  Bear"  the  dance  ceased,  and 
the  travellers  were  conducted  —  all  save  Joe  and  Jim, 
who  absolutely  refused  to  leave  the  raft  —  to  the  clump 
of  eight  or  ten  houses  which  composed  the  village. 


OUT  OF  THE  FRYING-PAN. 


101 


Mr.  Dutton  pointed  to  his  tent-pack,  and  intimated  by 
gestures  that  he  would  prefer  to  occupy  his  own  quarters 
for  the  night.  But  Loklok  shook  his  head,  and  pointed 
firmly  to  one  of  the  huts,  a  little  larger  than  the  rest. 
They  were  all  obliged  to  enter,  stooping  low  at  the 
entrance,  and  there  "  The  Bear "  left  them,  evidently 
relieved  at  having  his  curiosities  securely  caged. 

Now  at  last  the  party  had  a  chance  to  reflect  upon  the 
situation,  and  discuss  plans  for  the  morrow. 


f^^i'jr^fl 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


A    STARTLING   DISCOVEllY 


IHE  liut  in  which  our  friends  found  themselves 
was  a  small  affair,  built  of  spruce  boughs,  which 
v/ere  laid  against  a  ridge-pole  in  such  a  way  as  to 
form  a  seuii -circular  wall.  A  caril)ou  hide  was  thrown 
over  the  upper  part  of  these,  on  the  outside,  leaving  only 
a  small  space  for  the  escape  of  smoke,  which  liung  heav- 
ily in  the  apex  of  the  hut,  rising  from  embers  left  in  the 
centre  l)y  the  previous  occupants,  who  had  evidently  but 
just  been  hurried  out  of  the  guest  chamljer. 

A  dozen  split  salmon  were  hanging  from  the  rafters, 
drying  in  the  smoke,  at  an  altitude  unpleasantly  near  the 
noses  of  the  new-comers  when  they  stood  up.  Every  few 
minutes,  a  native  dog,  of  which  there  appeared  to  be 
dozens  about  the  place,  would  put  his  head  in  at  the  door 
and  snarl  viciously,  until  scared  away  by  Carlo,  who  had 
declared  war  with  the  whole  canine  tribe  at  the  outset. 

'•  I  say.  father,"  remarked  Hugh,  as  the  weary  five 
threw  themselves  down  at  the  greatest  possible  distance 
from  the  smouldering  spruce-knot  fire,  "  there's  no  danger 
of  getting  lost  in  this  liotel,  any  way." 

"•  Sure,  it's  the  hotel  itself  is  lost,"  added  Teddy,  dole- 

102 


«§ 


A    STAI:TLIi\G    DlSCWlCliV. 


103 


fully.     ''  Get  out,  ye  baste !  "  with  a  kick  at  one  of  the 
lean  v.iUage  curs. 

''  This  is  a  summer  village,"  said  Mr.  Dutton.     '•  Where 
these  fellows  live  in  the  winter,  I'm  sure  T  don't  know." 


<  IIILKAT   CANOE. 


"  Have  you  ever  heard  of  the  tribe  before  ? "  asked 
Rob,  who  had  been  examining  his  surroundings  curiously. 

"  Yes,  I  remember  that  Dick  mentioned  them  in  one  of 
his  letters.  They  claim  the  whole  country  watered  l)y 
the  Pelly  River  —  which    they  call   the  Ayan  —  and  a 


104 


THE  RED  MOUNTAiy   OF  ALASKA. 


considerable  stretch  of  the  big  Yukon  itself,  above  and 
below  old  Fort  Selkirk.  Tliey  never  go  near  the  coast.  I 
believe,  but  live  along  the  large  rivers,  and  in  the  winter 
time  make  long  hunting  excursions  into  the  interior  after 
caribou  and  moose." 

"And  bear?" 

''  Not  much,"  interrupted  Hugh.  "  I  heard  Joe  say 
that  the  Alaska  Indians  won't  hunt  the  brown  bear,  he  is 
so  fierce." 

'•  It's  strange  that  they  have  only  rafts  to  go  about  in." 

'•  Down  below,  the  tribe  have  plenty  of  canoes,  and 
good  ones,  too,  I've  heard.  The}-  make  them  of  birch 
bark,  sewed  with  the  fine  roots  of  the  spruce,  well  boiled 
to  make  them  soft  and  toudi." 

'•  Whew  !  "  exclaimed  Rob,  at  this  point  in  the  conver- 
sation, "  isn't  that  salmon  terrific  !  I  don't  believe  I  can 
stand  it  much  longer." 

"  If  it  was  only  salmon ! "  remarked  Hugh,  sadly. 
"  But  there  are  about  four  other  smells,  each  worse  than 
all  the  rest." 

"  Hold  on,  boys,"  said  their  father.  "  Ted,  you  stay 
near  the  door,  and  make  sure  that  nobody  is  listening. 
There  may  be  some  one  in  the  tribe  who  understands 
Encrlish." 


o 


"  Faith,  it's  nieself  that'll  be  glad  to  get  a  breath  of 
air,"  said  Teddy,  taking  his  post  as  sentry,  and  laying 
hold  of  a  good-sized  stick,  to  keep  the  dogs  away. 

"  The  question  is,"  continued  Mr.  Button,  "  how  shall 


A    STAliTLING    DISCOVERY. 


105 


we  get  away  from  here  ?     These  fellows  are  good-natured 
enough,  but  somehow  I  don't  wholly  trust  them.     Once  or. 
twice  1  caught  old  Loklok  exchanging  glances  -  ith  some 
of  his  big  subjects,  and  I  didn't  like  the  look  in  his  eyes." 

••  I  say,  let's  part  company  with  the  whole  crowd  as 
soon  as  possible,"  urged  Rob.  "•  I  feel  about  them  just 
as  you  do.  father.  They  looked  at  my  rifle  to-night  as  if 
they'd  eat  it.  I  don't  believe  they'll  be  satisfied  until 
they've  laid  hands  on  everything  in  our  packs.  They 
could  hardly  keep  from  fighting  over  Hugh's  rod  there 
while  he  was  catching  the  grayling  for  dinner." 

"  Whist  I  "  came  from  the  doorway.  "'  There's  an 
Injun  goin'  into  the  house  beyant." 

As  ''  beyant  "  was  only  a  foot  or  two  away,  caution  was 
certainly  necessary. 

The  huts  were  mostly  in  pairs,  and  the  Buttons  had 
noticed,  on  entering  theirs,  that,  in  common  with  the 
rest,  it  directly  faced  a  duplicate  of  itself,  with  only  a 
narrow  passageway,  a  foot  or  two  in  width,  between. 

"  Sure,  it's  the  ould  '  Bear  '  himself  !  "  added  Teddy, 
softly,  peering  out  of  the  door. 

"■  If  Loklok  is  to  occupy  that  hut  for  the  night."  said 
Mr.  Button,  decidedly,  *'  it's  of  no  use  for  us  to  think  uf 
leaving  by  the  front  door.  We  must  make  our  way  out 
of  the  rear  of  the  hut,  and  that  very  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, before  the  Ayans  are  up." 

Fortunately,  this  hut  was  a  little  removed  from  the 
others  in  the  village,  and  the  back  was  toward  the  forest. 


4t 


■m 


106 


TIII'J   RED   MOrXTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


'•  Look  out  I  "  sung  out  the  faithful  Irish  boy  again, 
"  one  o'  those  ugly  craturs  is  coniin'  now,  sure."  And  he 
glided  away  from  the  entrance  in  a  manner  that  would 
have  done  credit  to  an  Ayan  himself. 

The  visitor  turned  out  to  be  some  ofhcial  of  impor- 
tance, who  was  surmised  U)  be  a  medieine-man.  He  was 
dressed  in  a  blue-black  army  bhinket.  with  a  St.  George's 
cross  of  u:oru;eous  red  in  the  (Centre,  which  had  somehow 
found  its  way  into  the  interior  from  one  of  tlie  military 
]>osts.  Tliis  extraordinary  individual  |H'rfoniied  a  series  of 
iviiiarkable  antics  in  front  of  the  entrance  to  the  two  huts, 
stnittiuu'  up  and  down,  dancing,  and  assuming  all  sorts  of 
ridiculous  attitudes  ;  at  the  same  time  flourishing  the 
showy  blanket  to  what  lie  considered  the  l)est  advantage. 

In  tlu'  very  midst  of  an  uncommonly  dignified  strut  he 
suddenlv  unbent,  and.  diving  forward,  would  have  wd 
his  hand  on  the  ritle  had  not  little  Nat  seen  the  move- 
meii:  in  time  to  snatch  the  piece  out  of  his  reach.  Carlo 
uow  thought  it  was  high  time  for  him  to  take  a  part  in 
tlw  jH'vformance,  and.  darting  forward  l)efore  anybody 
could  stop  him,  gave  the  Ayan's  calf  a  good  pinch  with 
his  teeth. 

The  medicine-man  uttered  a  cry  of  pain  and  rage,  and 
retii'ated,  sliaking  his  fist  at  the  owners  of  the  malevolent 
Newfoundland       He  plahdv  meant  mischief. 

"1  thought  all  Indians  Avore  tanned  skins  of  animals, 
and  had  feathers  stuck  in  their  hair,"  said  Nat,  watching 
the  I'ctreatimi:  form  of  their  uncouth  caller. 


^^WIP 


A   STAIlTLlSa   niscovKitv 


107 


'■  Wu  aro  too  far  iiortli  Tor  tliat."  ('X[)laiiied  his  fatlier. 
'•  TliL»  Indians  an,'  more  and  iiiori'  like;  Ksquiiiiaux  in 
their  habits  and  (h'ess  as  we  ncai'  tiie  Arctic  Circle,  whicli, 
vou  ^vill  remember.  i)asses  dir<'('tlv  throuuii   Koi-t  Yukon."* 

A  more  alarmin*"'  sound  than  the  medieine-hi  in's  liarsh 
voice  was  now  lieard  at  the  other  end  ol"  tlie  village.  It 
was  the  report  of  a  unisket. 

••  Ah  1  exclaiuicd  Mr.  Dut'on.  starting  it  the  noise, 
•■  so  they  have  guns  I  It  uinst  be  one  ol"  the  old  smooth- 
bores, with  Hint  locks.  Dick  said  they  still  turned  up. 
once  in  a  while,  auiong  the  savages." 

"  How  <lid  thev  "et  them,  father  ?  " 

•'  Why.  when  the  Russian  traders  pnrcha.sed  furs  from 
the  Indians,  in  the  old  tiuies.  they  nsed  to  .set  a  nnisket 
npright.  and  pile  skins  arouud  it  until  they  reached  the 
mnzzle.  That  amount  was  considered  a  fair  exchange  for 
the  uun." 

Further  con\crsation  was  interrupted  by  a  sort  of 
euibassv  of  four  Avans,  who  waited  nixm  the  strangers 
with  a  birch-bark  dish,  piled  high  with  dried  salmon. 
tou;etlier  with  a  o;enerou.s  slice  of  bear  meat,  roasted  over 
one  of  their  smoky  fires. 

The  boys  would  have  preferred  to  provide  their  own 
supper,  but  it  was  thought  polite  to  accept  the  hospi- 
tality, if  such  it  was.  of  their  hosts.  They  therefore 
made  low  bows  of  thanks,  and  partook  in  a  gingerly  fash- 
ion of  the  "■.  lands  set  l)(^for(^  them. 

Several  of  the  Indians  joined  the  group  at  the  door- 


41*: 


108 


THE  liEl)   MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA 


way,  to  watch  the  strangers  at  their  r('}):i.st.  Teddy  was 
greatly  aiinised  to  see  the  babies  carried  on  their  niotliers' 
backs,  and  facing  backward.  The  good-natured  l)oy 
completely  won  the  heart  of  a  wofully  homely  squaw  b}' 
giving  a  lump  of  ^ugar  to  her  copper-colored  ])ap})oose. 

As  soon  as  the  unsavory  meal  was  finished,  the  whites 
rose  and  began  to  stroll  about  the  village.  Xol)ody  made 
any  objection  to  this,  but  the  boys  noticed  that  there  was 
always  some  one  pair  of  piercing  dark  eyes  watching 
them.  Now  it  was  old  Loklok.  who  had  a  u'audv  tur))an 
tied  over  his  lonu".  strinuv  locks  ;  now  the  mi'dicine-man's 
ugly  features  scowled  at  them  from  ])ehind  a  hut;  now  it 
Avas  a  squaw,  carelessly  waiulering  near  by.  with  ap}»av- 
ently  no  other  ol)ject  than  to  give  her  l)aby  an  airing. 

Joe  and  Jim  were  found  comfortably  ensconced  on  the 
raft.  They  had  prepared  their  own  supper,  and  eaten  i*;. 
m  their  own  way  ;  the  Ayans.  it  appeared,  had  pressed 
their  favorite  tidljit.  some  half-decayed  salmon,  upon  the 
swarthv  visitors,  but  Greek  had  met  Greek,  and  Manito- 
ban  obstinacy  had  won  against  Alaskan. 

Mr.  Button  talked  with  his  guides  a  moment  in  low 
tones,  giving  them  directions  for  action  if  he  should  boai-d 
the  raft  during  the  night  ;  but  his  conversation  evidently 
excited  so  nmch  suspicion  and  distrust  on  the  part  of  the 
Ayans  that  he  desisted  and  walked  off,  after  receiving  a 
meaning  glance  and  nod  from  each  of  the  guides. 

The  village  itself  was  picturesque  enough,  the  red  sides 
of  the  recently  caught  and  split  salmon  showing  prettih' 


#« 


"TIIK    nVDIAXS    WKUK    (iAMHLINU    IN    DKAD    EARNEST." 


f 


A    STARTLING  DISCOVERY. 


Ill 


against  the  dark  spruce  brush  of  the  wigwams,  on  which 
they  were  hung  and  spread  to  dry.  Some  of  the  Indians 
were  gathered  in  groups,  eagerly  playing  a  sort  of  a  game 
with  small  bone  dice  or  '"  chips,"  about  as  large  as  one's 
finger. 

The  Duttons  watched  the  progress  of  one  of  these 
games  with  much  interest.  An  even  number  of  Indians 
took  part  —  generally  six  or  eight  —  and  sat  in  two  rows, 
facing  each  other.  One  of  the  little  pieces  of  bone  was 
marked  in  a  peculiar  way,  and  was  held,  in  common  with 
the  other  pieces,  out  of  sight  in  the  hands  of  one  of  tlie 
players.  The  whole  group  then  commenced  a  sort  of 
low,  groaning  sing-song,  with  their  elbows  and  heads 
wagging,  until  one  of  the  five  suddenly  pointed  to  the 
hand  of  his  vis-d-vis,  which  he  thought  held  the  marked 
piece.  If  he  was  right,  his  side  tallied  one,  with  a 
peeled  willow  stick  thrust  in  the  sand  ;  if  wrong,  the 
count  went  to  the  other  party,  and  the  sing-song  com- 
menced again.  It  was  plain  that  the  Indians  were  gam- 
bling, and  in  dead  earnest,  for  they  bet  and  delivered 
over  fish,  horn  implements,  birch-bark  dishes,  and  even 
the  clothes  on  their  backs. 

As  the  night  grew  more  dusky,  and  the  Indians  became 
more  and  more  excited  in  their  games,  the  scene  was  a 
singularly  striking  one  —  the  dark  forms  bending  eagerlj' 
forward,  and  swaying  to  the  weird  music  of  their  wailinp, 
song,  the  firelight  now  lighting  up  their  swarthy  faces, 
now  leaving  them  obscured  in  the  gathering  shadows  —  • 


112 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


\ 


IB 


the  pale  waters  of  the  gkicial  river  rushing  by  the  dark 
forests,  and,  behind  all,  the  huge,  silent  forms  of  the  ever- 
lasting hills.  Avith  their  gloomy  ravines,  glittering  peaks, 
and  streams  of  ice. 

At  length  the' Buttons,  Aveary  with  the  day's  exertions, 
and  uncertain  wliat  i)lan  to  pursue,  turned  toward  the  hut 
allotted  to  them  for  the  night.  As  they  did  so,  they 
brushed  against  an  old,  wrinkled  squaw,  who  had  been 
eying  them  narrowly  for  a  considerable  time. 

Something  white  fluttered  from  the  filthy  folds  of  her 
garment.  Robert  had  it  in  his  hand  in  a  moment,  for  it 
had  a  stranc2;elv  familiar  look. 

It  was  a  delicately  embroidered  handkerchief,  and  in 
one  corner  were  the  words,  in  raised  letters,  — 

"FLOSSIE,   FROM  MOTHER." 


I 


CHAPTER    IX. 


FROM    VICTORIA   TO    SITKA. 


HEN  Mrs.  Dutton,  Florence,  and  Chloe  found 
themselves  on  the  deck  of  the  good  ship  St. 
Ellas,  leaving  the  hills  of  the  United  States  blue 
and  misty  on  the  horizon,  and  coasting  along  Vancouver 
Island  with  all  fore-and-aft  sails  set,  on  a  fair  west-north- 
west wind,  they  felt  that  the  adventurous  portion  of  their 
trip  had  fairly  begun. 

Of  course,  they  had  had  no  summer's-day  excursion 
thus  far.  The  two  ocean  voyages  had  been  arduous,  and 
the  ladies  had  often  felt  the  need  of  a  male  escort  on 
their  long  and  tedious  journey.  Still,  they  had  not  struck 
'^  {;om  the  regular  lines  of  travel,  and  many  of  their 
V  wxi  sex  had  been  their  companions  on  shipboard.  Now, 
on  the  contrary,  they  were  the  only  ladies  aboard ;  they 
were  off  the  steam  routes,  and  were  bound  for  a  wild  and 
desolate  country.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  near  prospect 
of  meeting  her  husband  and  sons,  Mrs.  Dutton  would 
have  felt  undeniably  homesick,  as  she  leaned  against  the 
rail  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  St.  Ellas,  and  watched  the 
headlands  of  Cape  Flattery  melt  into  the  clouds  that  hung 
along  the  southern  horizon. 

113 


114 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


u 


Flossie,  on  the  other  hand,  was  full  of  life  and  spirits. 
She  had  just  passed  her  sixteenth  birthday,  and  presented 
a  fair  picture  of  healthful  girlhood.  Her  soft  hair  blew 
out  in  golden  wisps  above  a  pair  of  honest,  sparkling, 
blue  eyes,  and  fell  over  her  shoulders  in  a  thick,  shining, 
brown  braid.  Her  nose  was  just  turned  up  enough  to  be 
a  bit  saucy,  and  her  lips  and  ainipledi  cheeks  were  as  win- 
some helpmates  to  the  before-mentioned  features  as  one 
could  wish  to  see. 

"  Don't  feel  blue,  mamma,"  said  the  girl,  nestling  to 
her  mother's  side,  and  throwing  an  arm  around  her  in 
that  pretty,  half-protecting  way  that  growing  daughters 
have.  ••  We'll  soon  be  there,  and  see  them  all.  I  wonder 
if  Hugh  has  grown!  And  little  Nat  —  I  expect  he's  a 
great,  tall  boy,  l)rown  as  an  Indian." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  when  we  see  your  Uncle  Richard. 
Flossie,"  returned  the  older  lady. 

''  There  !  —  you're  tired  of  taking  care  of  me  I  "  laughed 
Florence.  "'  You'll  be  glad  to  send  me  off  with  the  boys, 
so  you  can  '  talk  sensible  '  with  father  and  uncle  !  " 

'"  I  don't  care  much  al)Out  the  minerals  and  the  great 
fortune  he  wrote  of."  continued  Mrs.  Button,  hardly 
noticing  the  girl's  interruption.  "  The  main  thing  is  to 
get  them  all  back  alive  and  well.  We've  money  enougli 
to  make  us  comfortable  already." 

Here  the  attention  of  both  was  attracted  to  a  school  of 
dolphins,  who  curved  in  and  out  of  the  waves  close 
beside  the  vessel,  flashing  brilliantly  in  the  sunlight. 


, 


•A 
■n 

< 


•".''-•.'  r'r'u"  J'n 


FROM   VICTORIA    TO  SITKA. 


Ill 


The  steamers  now  running  between  California  and 
Sitka  take  the  "  inside  route,"  passing  between  Vancouver 
and  tlie  mainland.  Sailing  vessels,  however,  keep  to  the 
open  sea,  where  they  can  have  steady  breezes,  and  few 
treacherous  currents,  sunken  reefs,  or  floating  icebergs, 
such  as  render  the  narrower  channels  perilous  to  craft 
that  can  be  handled  only  slowly.  From  San  Francisco  to 
Victoria  is  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  From  that 
port  to  Sitka,  the  Buttons  had  still  a  sail  before  them  of 
somewhat  over  a  thousand  miles.  Richard  Button  would 
have  to  travel  about  a  third  of  that  distance,  from  Fort 
Wrangel,  to  ioin  his  sister-in-law  at  Sitka.  With  these 
distances  clearly  fixed  in  our  minds,  we  can  follow  our 
friends  over  every  league  of  their  voyage.  While  Mrs. 
Button  was  on  the  St.  EVias,  it  may  be  said,  in  dismissing 
the  subject  of  times  and  distances,  her  husband's  party 
was  travelling  slowly  westward  through  the  dense  ever- 
green forests  of  British  America,  just  south  of  Great  Slave 
Lake. 

The  good  ship  *S'^.  Elias  was  favored  with  fair  winds, 
and  in  just  a  fortnight  from  the  day  she  sailed  from  Vic- 
toria the  lofty  peak  of  Mt.  Edgecumbe  appeared  on  the 
northeast  horizon. 

Flossie  was  wild  with  delight  at  the  glorious  view, 
which  constantly  opened  as  the  vessel  kept  on  her  course 
toward  land.  The  coast  line  was  everywhere  broken  by 
huge  mountains,  their  rugged  sides  torn  by  avalanche  and 
torrent,  and  seamed  with  glaciers,  flowing  steadily  down- 


118 


TUE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


I  > 

I 


ward  into  the  sea.  It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  the 
St.  Elias  entered  Sitka  Sound.  A  long  canoe,  con- 
taining half  a  dozen  Indians,  passed  the  vessel.  They 
were  Stickeens,  the  captain  mformed  the  passengers,  run- 
ning down  to  the  halibut  grounds  off  Borka. 

A  sharp  mountain  peak  lifted  its  granite  head  to  the 
very  clouds  straight  ahead.  This  was  Mt.  Verstova. 
Its  sides  were  clothed  with  dark  reaches  of  hemlock  and 

pine. 

At  the  head  of  the  sound,  a  clump  of  low.  dingy-looking 
buildings  crouched  beside  the  water.  One  of  these  was 
on  a  bold,  rocky  bluff  —  the  old  Russian  castle  —  nearly 
two  hundred  feet  above  the  other  houses.  K  tumble- 
down wharf  presently  came  in  view,  with  a  few  sleepy 
people  lounging  upon  it. 

''  What  place  is  this?  "  asked  Flossie,  eagerly. 

"  Sitka !  " 


• 


CHAPTER  X. 

DAY    AND    NIGHT    IN    ALASKA. 

|T  was  now  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  but 
the  sun  was  still  shining  brightly,  lighting  up 
with  a  soft  glow  the  slopes  of  Mt.  Edgecumbe, 
fourteen  miles  away,  and  throwing  a  strange  light  over 
every  object  ashore.  It  seemed  like  a  dream.  There 
was  the  old  castle,  of  which  they  had  read,  the  decaying 
wharf,  the  desolate  but  sturdy  old  buildings  of  the  Rus- 
sians, and  the  ice-lopped  lieights  far  away,  reaching  up 
into  the  eastern  sky. 

But  now  a  tall,  manly  figure  appeared  on  the  wharf,  as 
the  vessel  dropped  her  anchor  a  short  distance  from  the 
shore.  In  another  minute  a  boat  was  seen  putting  off, 
manned  bv  a  native  oarsman. 

••  Uncle  Dick  !  Uncle  Dick  !  "  cried  Flossie,  recognizing 
the  quiet  figure  in  dark  blue  sitting  in  the  stern-sheets. 

The  officer  made  no  reply,  but  lifted  his  hat  and 
swung  it. 

The  boat  came  alongside ;  Lieutenant  Richard  Dutton 
was  up  over  the  side  in  a  twinkling,  and  held  Flossie  and 
her  mother  in  his  honest  arms. 

119 


^■■P 


^■P 


120 


77/2;  UED   MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


•'  I'm  so  glad  you've  come,"  he  said,  as  they  rowed 
asliore.  "  It  was  getting  pretty  hite  for  a  start,  and 
we've  a  long  journey  hefore  us.  Bless  me!  how  this 
little  girl  has  grown  I  "  and  he  eyed  Florence  with  a 
look  of  quizzical'  admiration,  that  made  her  laugh  and 
blush  and  give  his  whiskers  a  pull  at  the  same  time. 

"  You've  grown  —  brown, yourself,  uncle  I "  she  laughed. 
''  You've  tanned  so.  I  didn't  know  as  you'd  know  me!  " 

•'  I  don't  suppose  you  need  to  wait  very  long  before 
starting  ?  "  inquired  the  lieutenant,  turnhig  to  Mrs.  But- 
ton. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  more  than  a  week  —  " 

"  A  week  !  Why,  Ella,  tliat  won't  do  at  all.  To-day 
is  the  fifteenth  of  June.  We  have  agreed  to  meet  at 
Fort  Selkirk  on  July  10." 

"  Well,  how  soon  must  we  go  ?  " 

"  To-morrow." 

Mrs.  Button,  as  we  have  already  seen,  was  a  woman  of 
decision. 

"  Very  well,  Dick,  at  two  o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon 
my  daughter  and  I  will  be  ready." 

The  lieutenant  looked  relieved,  and  the  subject  was 
dropped. 

The  two  ladies  were  lodged  that  night  in  an  old  house, 
formerly  belonging  to  one  of  the  wealthiest  Russian  resi- 
dents. It  was  built  of  big  spruce  logs,  trimmed  square, 
was  three  stories  high  and  as  long  ;is  a  good-sized  hotel. 
These  large  buildings  were  once  divided  into  '"  fiats,"  like 


DAY  AND  NlQllT  IN  ALASKA. 


121 


our  modern  apartincMit  hotels,  and  were  occupied  in  this 
wav  1)V  well-to-do  families,  both  co  iifort  and  self-pnjtec- 
tion  beinu"  y;ained.  The  walls  of  tlie  house  were  painted 
red,  and  the  roof  was  covered  with  sheets  of  iron  of  a 
dingy  yellow. 

Flossie  V  is  delighted  with  her  room,  which  o]»en(;d 
into  her  mother's.  She  declared,  as  she  tried  one  antique 
piece  of  Russian  furniture  after  another,  that  she  almost 
wished  she  was  going  to  stay  in  Sitka,  which  promised  so 
many  surprising  walks,  funny  customs  among  the  native 
inlial)itants,  and  genuinely  interesting  antirpiitios.  Flor- 
ence w^as  an  ardent  lover  of  history  at  school,  and  had 
taken  pains  during  the  winter  to  book  herself  up  thor- 
oughly on  the  story  of  Russian  America,  from  the  time 
when  the  first  Russian  explorers  visited  its  wild  shores, 
in  1742,  through  the  history  of  the  oppressed  Indians,  the 
massacres  and  wars,  the  greedy  incursions  of  the  fur- 
hunters,  to  the  year  1867,  when  the  whole  territory  now 
known  as  Alaska  was  sold  to  the  United  States  for 
$7,200,000,  and  garrisoned  by  United  States  troops. 
There  was  already  a  custom-house  officer  at  Ntnv 
Archangel,  or  Sitka,  as  it  had  come  to  be  called  from  the 
Indian  name. 

So  Flossie  was  eager  to  verify  her  studies,  and  as  she 
skipped  over  the  polished  plank  floor  of  her  room,  back 
and  forth  from  the  deep  window-seats  to  the  old  mahog- 
any sofa  and  the  w'ild-goat  skin  rug  before  the  fireplace, 
she  did  long  to  see  the  castle  of  Baronov,  and  the  tin- 


100 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


11 


i 


: 


roofed  spire,  beneath  wliicli  tlie  gorgeously  bedecked  priests 
had  so  long  administered  the  rites  of  the  Greek  Church  to 
Siwash,  Stickeen,  American,  Englishman,  and  Russian. 

But  Mrs.  Button  was  already  busy  with  preparations 
for  the  trip,  and'  at  eleven  o'clock,  while  it  was  still  bright 
daylight,  the  two  ladies  retired  to  dream  of  the  glaciers, 
forests,  and  volcanoes  which  lay  in  their  path  ;  which 
separated  them  from  the  wonderful  "  Red  Mountain." 

Next  morning,  Florence  is  awakened  b}'  a  flood  of  sun- 
liorht  streamino-  in  on  her  chamber  iloor.  Conscience- 
stricken  at  having  overslept,  she  patters  to  the  window 
for  a  look  at  the  new  country  before  dressing.  Nobody 
seems  to  be  stirring.  Curious,  how  lazy  the  inhabitants 
are !  She  pulls  out  the  tiny  Geneva  watch  that  her 
father  gave  her  on  her  sixteenth  birthday,  and  springs 
open  the  cover.  A  quarter  before  three  !  With  a  merry 
little  laugh  all  to  herself,  the  girl  swings  to  the  shutters 
of  the  windows,  jumps  back  into  bed  again,  cuddles  down 
under  the  blankets,  and  is  soon  enjoying  the  soundest  of 
morning  naps. 


|i       ! 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE    CHILKOOT    PASS. 


iT  there  is  one  thing  that  troubles 

me,"  said  Lieutenant  Dick,  as  the 

party  sat  around  the  table,  eating 

the  last  meal  at  Sitka,  "and  that 

is  that  a  Copper  River  Indian, 

with   a  couple   of    Avans.   was 

hangino;  around  the  settlements 

yesterday,    trying    to    find    out 

where  we  were  fi;oini>:.  and  what 

was  the  object  of  our  expedition." 

''  Are  those  tribes  located  in  the  country  to  which  we 

are  bound  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Dutton,  calmly,  helping  herself 

to  another  saucer  of  preserved  salmon-berries. 

"  That's  just  the  bother.  The  Coppers  live  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  very  district  covered  by  Peeschee's  map. 
Isn't  that  so,  Peeschee?" 

''  The  Fox."  who  was  waiting  on  the  party  most  obsequi- 
ously, corroborated  the  lieutenant's  statement  by. several 
emphatic  shakes  of  the  head.     "  Ayans  fish  on  Yukon  and 

Big  Ayan,"  he  added. 

128 


124 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


"  Hang  it ! "  exclaimed  tlie  officer,  ruefully.  "  I  hope 
we  sha'n't  have  anv  trouble  with  those  fellows." 

"What  does  he  mean  by  the  'Big  Ayan'?"  asked 
Florence,  who  had  been  listening  attentively. 

"  That's  the  native  name  for  the  Pelly  River,  the 
northern  fork  of  the  Yukon.  Fort  Selkirk,  where 
our  expedition  is  to  form,  is  at  the  junction  of  the  two 
streams." 

"  But  why  are  you  concerned  about  the  Indians, 
Dick  ?  "  asked  his  sister-in-law. 

"  Why,  it's  only  about  twenty  years  ago  that  a  lot  of 
'em  in  there  rose  and  massacred  a  party  of  wiiites. 
Then,  a  few  years  later,  they  burned  Fort  Selkirk. 
They're  awfully  jealous  of  any  one  who  comes  into  their 
territory  for  mining,  —  or  anything  el.se,  for  that  matter. 
I  was  in  hopes  that  we  could  slip  down  by  their  country 
without  attracting  much  attention,  they're  so  busy  catch- 
ing salmon  just  now." 

''Well,  why  can't  we?" 

"  Because  it's  got  round  somehow  that  we  are  a  big 
prospecting  party,  on  the  lookout  to  establish  a  post  for 
furs,  and  so  cut  in  ahead  of  the  natives  and  spoil  their 
profits.  Here.  Peeschee,  step  outside  and  see  if  anybody 
has  lieard  anything  more  of  tliose  skulking  chaps  from 
the  north." 

Peeschee  was  absent  just  seven  minutes.  No  one 
knew  of  his  reentrance  until  he  was  at  liis  master's  shoul- 
der once  more. 


THE  CUILKOOT  PASS. 


126 

Paddle  urn 


"  Injuns   gone  at  sunrise   this   morning, 
ca.ioes  for  Copper  River." 

Richard  shook  his  head  gravely,  and  rose  from  the  table. 

"  We  may  hear  more  of  them,"  he  said,  "  but  I  hardly 
think  there  is  serious  danger,  or  I  would  not  start.  We 
shall  go  well  armed,  and  when  the  cowardly  chaps  find 
we  are  to  strike  reenforcements  at  Selkirk,  they  won't 
care  to  risk  their  skins,  I  reckon." 

One  half-hour  later  the  party  was  under  way. 

As  it  moved  down  toward  the  wharf,  viewed  by  a  half- 
hundred  sleepy  Sitkans,  it  was  composed  as  follows :  — 

1.  Lieutenant  Button  and  Peeschee. 

2.  Mrs.  Button,  Florence,  and  Chloe. 

3.  Thirty  Chilkat  Indians,  whose  services  had  been 
procured  to  "  pack  "  the  tents,  arms,  blankets,  and  pro- 
visions over  the  snowy  mountain  pass  to  the  navigable 
waters  of  the  Yukon. 

4.  Solomon  Baronov.  This  last  was  a  hunter,  trapper, 
and  guide ;  a  Yankee  through  and  through  on  his 
mother's  side,  and  a  shrewd  Russian  on  his  father's. 
The  former  had  been  a  Cape  Cod  girl,  and  had  found  her 
way  somehow  with  her  father,  the  skipper  of  a  fisherman- 
coaster,  to  the  Alaska  banks.  Seeking  shelter  in  Sitka 
from  a  storm,  they  had  met  Ivan  Baronov,  and  "  Betsy  " 
had  loved  and  married  him.  Solomon,  their  only  child, 
had  at  an  early  age  taken  to  the  woods  for  amusement  and 
occupation.  Whether  his  mother  and  grandfather  had 
always  retained  the  peculiarities  of  the  nasal  New  Eng- 


126 


THE  ItED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


land  dialect  is  not  known  ;  bnt  certain  it  is  that  Solomon 
was  '^  down-east"  in  every  shrewd  twinkle  of  his  eye  and 
intonation  of  his  voice.  This,  with  the  fact  that  he  was 
a  dead  shot,  and  immensely  powerful  in  his  arms,  is  all 
we  need  to  knoW' at  present  of  Solomon  Baronov.  We 
shall  be  better  acquainted  with  him  by  and  by.  Getting 
wind  of  the  lieutenant's  expedition,  he  had  petitioned  at 
once  to  join  it,  on  small  pay,  as  general  hunter  and  guide. 
At  the  present  moment  he  was  swinging  along  at  an 
easy  gait,  behind  the  Indians,  smoking  a  well  blackened 
briar- wood  as  he  walked. 

A  small  schooner  had  been  chartered,  and  lay  at  the 
wharf  in  waiting  for  her  passengers  and  freight.  These 
were  soon  on  board,  sails  were  hoisted,  and  the  Walrus 
began  to  plough  the  waters  of  the  sound.  Sitka  was 
left  behind,  Mt.  Edgecumbe  passed,  and  the  prow  of  the 
schooner  turned  northward. 

The  short  voyage  was  without  special  incident,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  Saturday,  the 
Walrus  let  go  her  anchor  in  Chilkoot  Inlet. 

Canoes — and  iho  schooner's  boat  —  were  now  taken 
to  the  extreme  head  of  the  inlet,  an  all-day's  hard  pull. 
At  noon  the  party  stopped  for  lunch  under  some  large 
cedars  near  the  shore.  Grass  grew  on  all  sides  shoulder- 
high  ;  enormous  dandelions,  buttercups,  and  violets  dotted 
the  moist  banks,  while  b'Mars  and  berry  vines,  covered 
with  snowy  blossoms,  grew  in  rank  profusion  over  boul- 
der and  fallen  trunk. 


THE  CUILKOOT  FASS. 


127 


Soon  after  leaving  this  spot,  the  little  flotilla  entered 
the  narrow  portion  of  their  course,  known  as  Dayay 
Inlet.  Again  Florence's  girlish  adjectives  of  admiration 
wore  called  into  play  by  the  dark  masses  of  foliage  cloth- 
ing the  steep  hills  on  each  side  of  the  stream,  and  the 
frequent  cataracts  that  dashed  down  from  the  far-off 
lieia:hts. 

The  end  of  open  navigation  was  reached  at  last,  but 
the  banks  were  too  soft  at  this  point  to  admit  of  a  camp. 

The  swift  Dayay  River  was  therefore  followed  up  for  a 
mile,  and  here  the  really  wild  life  commenced.  Tents 
were  pitched  and  fires  lighted  at  once.  Solomon  slouched 
off  with  his  rifle,  and  presently  returned  with  a  couple  of 
rabbits,  which  he  threw  down  for  his  contribution  to  the 
evenimj;  meal. 

After  supper,  the  whites  gathered  about  the  fire  in  front 
of  the  largest  tent,  which  was  devoted  to  the  ladies,  and 
told  stories.  How  dim  and  weird  the  twisted  shapes  of 
the  trees  in  the  dusky  northern  twilight !  How  ceaseless 
and  cukl  the  rush  of  the  white,  icy  river  !  The  Indians  at 
once  organized  themselves  into  gambling  parties,  and 
added  their  doleful  wails  to  the  hooting  of  an  owl  some- 
where in  the  forest. 

'•  Hark !  "  said  Solomon,  suddenly,  letting  his  hand 
drop  instinctively  upon  his  rifle,  then  continuing  the 
story  he  had  just  been  telling,  but  plainly  with  every 
sense  on  the  alert. 

Flossie    looked    up    inquiringly,    but,    guided    by    an 


128 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


hand,     said 


expressive    gcstiire    of    the     liunter's    big 
nothing. 

Before   Solomon  had  reached  the  end  of  his  story 

which  indeed  had  assumed  a  remarkably  rambling  char- 
acter during  the  last  few  minutes  —  the  snapping  of  a 
twig  close  by  was  heard  by  all,  and  a  moment  later 
three  men  walked  into  the  circle  of  firelight. 

"Ayans!"  grunted  the  Fox,  just  loud  enough  for  his 
master  to  hear. 

The  new-comers  merely  glanced  aiound  the  group,  and 
then  joined  the  Chilkats,  by  whom  however,  they  were 
coldly  received. 

Finding  their  presence  unwelcome,  they  retired  a  short 
distance,  threw  themselves  down  on  their  blankets,  and 
were  soon  apparently  sound  asleep. 

In  the  morning  the  Ayans  were  missing,  together  with 
several  small  articles,  of  more  or  less  value,  about  the  camp 
—  including  an  embroidered  handkerchief,  which  Flossie 
had  incautiously  left  on  a  log  near  the  fire  on  the  previous 
evening.  As  it  was  Sunday,  this  day  was  spent  quietly 
in  camp. 

Monday's  journey  was  a  hard  one.  For  ten  miles  the 
party  strrf.  .^'\  ;  along  the  banks  of  the  Dayay,  up  whose 
milky  ci,.  :  tt^^  "  packers  "  dragged  the  canoes,  heavily 
loaded  with  baggage.  More  than  a  dozen  times  the 
ladies  had  to  be  carried  across  the  stream,  as  the  trail 
struck  its  bends  and  long,  winding  detours.  Chloe  at 
first  objected  seriously  to  this  method  of  ferriage. 


THE  CiriLKOOT  PASS. 


1-29 


"Dat's  a  po'  contrivance,"  she  said,  anxiously,  as  she 
watched  a  broad-shouldered  Chilkat  lift  Florence  and 
carry  her  across  to  the  opposite  bank.  "  He'll  go  an' 
drop  uie,  sho'." 

'■  But  how  are  you  going  to  cross,  Chloe  ?  "  asked  her 
mistress,  amused. 

'•  I  dunno,  Mis'  Duoton,  I  dunno.  Tears  like  I  done 
got  far's  I  c'n  go." 

"  Oh,  nonsense,  Chloe,"  and  Mrs.  Button  gathered  up 
her  skirts  preparatory  to  her  own  embarkation.  ''  If  a 
can  go.  you  can." 

A  compromise  was  finally  effected  by  employing  two 
Indians,  instead  of  one,  to  carry  the  black  woman,  who 
uttered  various  uncouth  cries  at  every  step  of  her  bearers, 
and  clung  so  tightly  to  their  necks  as  almost  to  choke 
them. 

The  scenery  grew  more  and  more  wild  as  the  expedi- 
tion advanced.  Baird's  Glacier  seemed  fairly  to  overhang 
the  valley.  Heavy  clouds  rested  on  the  summits  of  the 
highest  mountains  during  the  day,  rising  only  as  evening 
came  on. 

That  night,  the  air  was  much  colder  than  before ;  big- 
ger fires  and  more  blankets  were  called  into  requisition. 

The  canoes  were  now  concealed  in  the  bushes,  a  few 
yards  from  the  shore,  and  the  baggage  packed  upon  the 
backs  of  the  Indians,  the  men  carrying  about  one  hun- 
dred pounds  each,  and  the  boys  less  weight,  proportion- 
ately to  their  strength. 


130 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


1^ 


The  travelling  now  became  so  difficult  tliat  Lieutenant 
Dutton  was  in  serious  doubt  whether  it  was  practicable 
for  ladies  to  advance  farther  into  the  wilderness.  He 
accordingly  summoned  a  council  of  war. 

"  Ella,"  said  he,  addressing  Mrs.  Dutton,  "  the  trail  is 
decidedly  rough  —  much  rougher  than  I  expected,  I  must 
say.  There  seem  to  be  thousands  of  acres  of  these 
fallen  trees  —  " 

"  We  can  climb  over  them,"  interpolated  Mrs.  Dutton, 
with  energy. 

"There  are  boggy  places  between — " 

"  We  will  wade  through  them." 

"  There  are  numerous  bears  in  the  neighborhood,  Sol- 
omon informs  me." 

''  So  much  the  better  for  the  commissariat." 

"  The  Ayans  have  got  wind  of  our  approach  - 

"  Let  them  come." 

"  In  short,"  shouted  Dick,  in  desperation,  "  it's  going 
to  be  a  mighty  hard  road  to  travel.  The  question  is. 
Shall  we  return,  or  go  on  ?  " 

Mrs.  Dutton  rose  to  the  occasion.  She  did  not  argue 
or  discuss.  She  pointed  to  the  mountain  pass  before 
them,  and  said  just  two  words  :  — 

"  Go  ox  !  " 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  this  same  day  that  they 
reached  a  wild  and  desolate  district,  known  to  the  Ind~ 
ians  as  the  "  stone  houses."  These  consisted  merely  of 
huge  boulders  piled  pell-mell  in  great  heaps,  with  crev- 


V 


THE  CHILKOOT  PASS. 


131 


. 


ices  and  caves  between,  where  shelter  could  be  found. 
There  were  banks  of  deep  snow  close  by,  and  closing  the 
gaps  between  mountains  on  every  side  were  walls  of  blue 
ice. 

The  lieutenant  and  Solomon  set  to  work  at  once,  and 
in  a  short  time  had  one  of  these  caves  cleared  out,  car- 
peted with  moss  and  spruce  boughs,  and  provided  with 
two  front  curtains,  one  of  drilling  and  one  of  netting,  as 
a  protection  against  mosquitoes,  which  even  at  this  alti- 
tude were  inclined  to  be  troublesome. 

This  comfortable  little  retreat  was  bestowed  upon  Mrs. 
Button,  her  daughter,  and  maid,  and,  with  a  bright  lire 
crackling  just  before  the  entrance,  was  really  as  cosey- 
looking  a  camp  as  one  could  wish. 

"Oil,  look!"  cried  Flossie,  just  as  the  cave  was  fin- 
ished, '•  there's  some  kind  of  a  creature  crossing  the  snow, 
away  off  there  !  " 

Solomon  looked  up  from  his  work,  and  viewed  the  dis- 
tant animal  with  a  professional  eve. 

"  A  mountain  goat,"  said  he,  picking  up  his  rifle.  "  I 
guess  ni  go  'n'  stir  him  up  a  leetle  —  no,  I  don't  want 
anybody  but  the  Fox.  tliar,"  he  added,  as  a  dozen  or  more 
Chilkats  came  forward  to  join  him. 

The  goat's  hair  was  white,  and  he  could  hardlv  be  dis- 
tinguished  against  the  snow.  Sending  Peeschee  round  in 
the  rear  of  the  animal,  the  hunter  crept  cautiously  toward 
a  certain  bold  bluff  of  bare  rocks,  half-way  between  him 
and  the  game. 


132 


TlIK  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


I  1 


After  an  absence  of  some  twenty  minutes,  Peeschee 
appeared  Ix'yond  the  goat,  wliicli  started  on  a  quick  run 
toward  the  bhilf.  There  he  was  seen  to  pause  suddenly, 
and  wheel  about.  But  it  was  too  late.  A  puif  of  smoke 
arose  from  between  the  rocks,  a  sharp  report  rang  out 
across  the  valley,  and  the  goat  made  his  last  leap,  falling 
headlong  over  the  bluff  to  the  boulders  at  its  base.  Solo- 
mon and  Peeschee  now  descended  the  cliff  in  more  lei- 
surely fashion,- and  presently  were  seen  bending  over  the 
game,  which  was  evidently  stone-dead. 

What  were  the  two  men  about  ?  Were  they  preparing 
to  bring  the  carcass  of  the  goat  into  camp  ?  Not  they. 
The  day's  work  had  been  too  arduous  to  invite  a  '•  lug  "  of 
a  hundred-and-iifty-pound  goat  across  half  a  mile  of  rough 
rocks  and  deep  snow.  They  busied  themselves  for  .^ome 
time  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  and  then  were  seen  coming 
back  to  their  party.  Peeschee  bore  his  share  of  the 
results  of  the  hunt  —  a  hide  of  snow-,white  hair,  reaching 
an  almost  furry  softness  on  the  neck  and  breast  parts  of 
the  animal.  Solomon  did  not  want  the  hide.  The 
handle  of  his  huntincj:-knife  had  been  cracked  in  some 
way  the  day  before.  He  proposed  to  occupy  his  leisure 
moments  in  manufactiu'ing  a  new  one  from  the  glossy 
ebony  horns,  the  points  of  which  protruded  from  the 
pocket  or  pouch  of  his  hunting  shirt.  In  each  hand,  it 
should  be  added  (Peeschee  carried  the  empty  rifle),  Baro- 
nov  swung  what  might  well  be  taken  for  an  uncommonly 
large   "  Indian   club."     They  were  the  hind-quarters  of 


THE  cniLKOOT  PASS. 


1  o<> 

1  ')r> 


the  goat,   Avliicli  were  straightway  added   to   the  hill  of 
Tare  of  the  party. 

It  was  thought  hest  to  rest  a  day  at  the  Stone  Houses, 
and  the  decision  was  a  fortunate  one.  for  hv  eleven  in  the 
forenoon  a  driving  hailstorm  set  in.  and  throuu'hout  the 
remainder  of  the  dav  it  rained  and  snowed  furiouslv  hy 
turns.  The  ladies  were  ([uite  eomfortahle  in  their  sinig 
cave,  the  front  opening  of  which  was  overhung  hy  a 
hroad  honlder,  forming  a  natural  lintel.  The  Indians 
crept  into  the  crevices  among  the  rocks,  like  so  many 
marmots.  Solomon  im])roved  the  time  ])y  fashioning  the 
new  horn  handle  to  his  knife. 

Next  morning  the  ex})edition  was  at  roiifc  at  half  })ast 
three.  The  sun  shone  hrightly.  and  scattered  the  fogs 
from  the  valleys.  The  hardest  day's  march  of  all  was 
before  the  Duttons.  through  wdiat  is  now  called  Terrier 
Pass. 

Up,  up  they  mounted,  over  (h-eary  wastes  of  snow  and 
ice.  the  Indian  packers  going  ahead  and  often  pausing  to 
cut  steps  in  the  glacier  slopes,  or  looking  back  and  gestic- 
ulating to  ])oint  out  the  best  route.  At  noon  all  hands 
reached  the  summit  of  the  pass,  a  trifle  more  than  four 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  A  cold,  clannny 
fog  drifted  around  them ;  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but 
snow  and  ice  and  a  few  stretches  of  bare  rock. 

On  one  of  these  last  they  paused  for  a  dry  aiid  cold 
hmcheon,   there   being    no    fuel  of    any  kind   near.     On 

CI?  \j 

again,   down  a   steep  descent,   the  Indians    using   snow- 


184 


Till':  lil'Jh  MOL'XTAiy   of  ALASKA. 


It 


shoes,  which  they  had  brouglit  on  their  ])acks  for  that 
purpose. 

Now  they  came  to  a  frozen  lake.  One  swaHow,  swiftly 
darting  across  its  still,  white  expanse,  was  the  only  sign 
oi  life. 

Nightfall  —  or  what  would  have  been  nightfall  at 
home  —  came  down  upon  them  while  they  were  still 
tramping  wearily  through  the  snow,  and  it  was  nearly 
midnight  when  the  broad  waters  of  Lake  Lindeman 
stretched  out  before  them.  Tents  were  hastily  pitched, 
and,  thoroughly  exhausted,  the  whole  i)arty  threw  them- 
selves down  on  their  blankets  and  forgot  snow,  ice,  weari- 
ness, and  moscpiitoes,  yes,  even  apprehensions  of  the 
sullen  Ayans,  in  refreshing  sleep. 

"We  \vd\v  already  seen  how  Mr.  Dutton  and  the  boys 
bnilt  their  raft  near  "  Camp  Prospect."  It  is  needless  to 
describe  the  process  again.  Lieutenant  Dutton  went  to 
work  with  his  forces  in  nuicli  the  same  way,  and  tiie 
result  was  a  craft  considerably  stronger  and  hand;^omer 
than  the  former  —  as  gov^ernment  work  is  usually  more 
thorough  than  that  of  private  contractors  I  In  addition 
to  ropes  at  the  corners  of  the  raft,  the  logs  were  fastened 
together  with  stout  wooden  pins,  driven  into  auger  holes 
which  had  been  bored  for  that  purpose  at  the  points  where 
the  logs  were  mortised  and  saddled.  An  elevated  deck 
of  spruce  poles,  high  and  dry  al)Ove  the  water,  furnished 
comfortable  quarters  for  the  gentler  members  of  the  expe- 
dition. 


THE  CIULKOOT  PASS. 


185 


On  the  second  Monday  morning,  the  twenty-eighth  of 
June,  the  voyage  down  the  river  began.  All  the  Indians 
except  Peeschee  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  most  trusted  Chil- 
kats  were  paid,  discharged,  and  sent  home  across  the  pass. 

For  two  weeks  the  raft  sailed,  bumped,  floated  its 
way  down-stream.  Just  below  Lindeman  was  another 
lake,  thirty  miles  long.  Its  shores  were  low  and  boggy, 
but  the  hills  in  the  background  gave  a  liveliness  to  the 
landscape,  which  was  increased  by  the  abundance  of  little 
streams  that  came  leaping  down  from  the  far-away  glaciers, 
to  pour  their  ice-cold  waters  into  the  larger  river. 

Now  and  then,  but  rarely,  large  game  appeared  on 
shore.  Solomon  and  Flossie  became  firm  friends,  and 
had  many  a  long  talk  together  as  they  sat  oa  the  raised 
deck,  looking  out  over  lake  or  stream. 

"  What  do  you  do  in  the  winter?  "  the  girl  asked,  on 
one  of  these  occasions. 

''  Oh,  I  jest  hang  raound,  pretty  much.  Sometimes  I 
hev  a  line  o'  traps  to  tend." 

'•  ^Yhat  do  you  do  with  the  poor  little  creatures  after 
you  catch  them  ?  " 

"  Sell  their  pelts,"  said  Baronov,  laconically. 

''  Why,  how  nnich  are  they  worth  ?  " 

''  Oh.  a  good  beaver  skin  '11  bring  abaout  two  dollars 
an'  a  half.  They're  the  commonest  fur  animal  in  Alasky 
that's  wuth  ketchin'.  Mush-rat  pelts  air  wuth  five  cents. 
A  sea-otter's  skin  kin  be  sold  anywheres  for  se\^enty-five 
dollars  and  up'ards." 


136 


THE  llED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


f\ 


•'  I  wonder  if  there  are  really  any  '  blue  foxes  '  ?  "  asked 
Floss.  ••  1  had  such  a  pi-otty  boa  last  winter.  It  was 
just  the  color  of  a  nialtese  kitten,  only  the  fur  was  just 
as  long  and  silky  !  " 

'•  Oh-  yes,  thar's  some  islands  whar  the  blue  foxes  are 
connnoner  than  red.  Thar's  eight  or  ten  thaousand  pelts 
sent  oft"  every  year.  The  Injuns  on  them  islands  kill  otf 
the  red  foxes  all  tliey  kin.  so's  to  leave  0]dy  ])ure  blue  ones." 

"Pour  little  tilings  1  "'  mused  the  girl.  "How  they 
must  wish  they  didn't  have  any  fur  at  all.  I  wouldn't 
like  to  be  a  blue  fox." 

"Wal.  I  (Tno."'  said  Solomon,  "I  reckon  they  kind  o' 
look  daowii  on  the  red  ones,  an'  git  some  comfort  out 
o'  that.  It"s  astonishin'  haow  foxes  —  an"  folks  —  do  like 
to  look  daown  I  " 

Day  after  day  the  raft  surged  onward,  drawing  con- 
stantly nearer  its  destination.  On  Friday  noon.  Julv  ',». 
it  was  only  foi'ty-hve  miles  from  Fort  Selkirk.  The  banks 
were  now  steep  and  forbidding,  and  the  river  full  of  dan- 
gerous rapids,  ^[ore  than  once  Florence  and  Chloe  went 
ashore  and  walked  over  a  "  carry."  while  the  rest  of  the 
party  shot  the  swift  water,  or  "  rii)S,"  as  they  were  called. 
Mrs.  Button  never  deserted  the  shiji. 

All  that  Friday  night  they  kept  on,  not  daring  to  halt 
lest  some  unforeseen  accident  should  carise  them  to  miss 
their  appointment.  For  Saturday,  July  10,  was  the  day 
set  for  the  union  of  forces. 

Only  twelve  miles  away  I      Ferhai)s  it  was  the  effect  of 


ii 
'I 

i 


THE  CHILKOOT   PASS. 


130 


the  gloomy  gcges  through  which  tliey  were  shooting,  or 
the  heavy  clouds  which  settled  down  over  the  river,  be- 
tokening a  coming  storm  ;  but  the  party  could  not  shake 
off  a  strange  sensation  of  fear,  of  dread  of  some  discovery 
to  take  place,  of  an  actual  shrinking  terror,  that  gained 
on  them  momently  as  they  swept  onward. 

High  noon,  and  the  site  of  Fort  Selkirk  only  five  miles 
away,  according  to  the  confident  assertion  of  Peeschee, 
the  Fox. 

Three  miles.  —  two.  —  one  ! 

A  clump  of  blackened,  ruined  chimneys  comes  into 
view,  on  a  little  raised  plateau  ahead. 

Dick  Button  strained  his  ej'es,  Mrs.  Button  looked 
eagerly  in  the  same  direction,  Flossie  waved  her  hand- 
kerchief and  Chloe  her  red  bandanna ;  but  there  was  no 
respTiise,  though  by  all  previous  calculations  the  British- 
Aii  fj'ican  party  ought  to  have  arrived  several  days  in 
advanc(5  of  the  Sitkans. 

T'le  raft  grounded,  and  the  Buttons,  with  hearts  full  of 
forebodings,  hurried  up  to  the  ruined  fort.  Their  worst 
dread  was  realized.  The  ground  was  trampled  with  the 
recent  tread  of  many  feet,  but  no  other  sign  of  the  dear 
ones  they  longed  for  was  to  be  seen.  Wnile  they  stood 
staring  silently  at  the  ground,  the  wind  began  to  moan 
uneasily  through  the  spruce  tojis,  a  few  great  drops  of 
rain  came  splasliing  down,  and  in  another  minute,  with  a 
glittering  flash  of  lightning,  the  storm  burst  upon  them. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


i 


AN    ESCAPE,    AND    A    NEW    E.,  '. 

OMING  upon  his  sister's  ImiRlkerchief,  Robert's 
heart  sank  witliin  him.  Until  liis  fatlier  and 
brothers  were  safe  inside  tlie  iuit,  and  the 
tattered  cariliou  hide  (h-awn  across  the  en- 
ranc-e.  tlie   hov  did  not  dare  to  speak  of  his 


<iiii.K.vr  iii;.\i  i:- 
ii;t,  madk  fkom    , . 

sii.vKK  ( oiN.      aiscover\ 


As  tliey  threw  themselves  down  on  the  skins  and 
blankets  that  carpeted  the  cabin,  the  (ire  flared  np  for  a 
moment.  Instantly  Mr.  Diitton  saw  bv  Robert's  expres- 
sion that  .something  had  gone  wrong. 

-What's  the  matter,  my  boy  ?  "  he  asked  qnietly,  after 
waiting  a  moment  for  the  former  to  s))eak. 

Robert  handed  him   the  handkerchief,  without  a  word, 
hardly  daring  to  look  into  his  father's  face  as  he  did  so. 
Mr.  Dutton  controlled  himself  by  a  strong  effort. 
"It  is  Flossie's?" 
•^' Yes,  sir." 

There  was  another  silence,  that  threatened  to  be  broken 
by  a  wail  from  Teddy.  While  Hugh  was  hushing  hini 
up.  Cai-lo  gave  a  low  growl,  and  at  the  same  moment  the 
hide  across  the  doorway  was  pushed  aside. 

141) 


AN  ESCAPE,  AM)  A    NEW  ENEMY 


141 


"  Be  still,  Carlo  !  "  comiiianded  Mr.  Diitton.  "  Wliat 
is  it  ?  "  he  added  more  sharply  to  the  new-comer,  forget- 
ting that  the  Ayans  spoke  and  understood  only  their  own 
lano;ua<i;e. 

But,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  the  visitor,  though  evidently 
one  of  the  tribe,  replied  in  broken  English.  By  the  dim 
light  they  could  make  out  that  it  was. the  ill-favored 
squaw  to  whose  pappoose  Ted  had  given  the  sugar. 

"  S-s-t !  "  she  hissed,  looking  over  her  shoulder.  "■  Bad 
Injun  hear.     No  speak  loud." 

"What  do  vou  want  ?" 

'•  You  'fraid,  'cause  find  white  girl's  han'chif." 

The  boys  gathered  more  closely  about  the  speaker. 
Mr.  Button's  voice  trembled  in  spite  of  himself. 

"Weil,  well,  my  good  woman,  go  on.  Is — is  she 
alive  ?" 

"  White  girl  not  hurt.  Nobody  hurt.  Bad  Injuns  go 
look  for  white  people  comin'.  Think  he  come  steal  furs. 
Injun  take  han'chif." 

The  man  gave  a  long  sigh  of  relief. 

"  What  do  vour  tribe  mean  to  do  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  They  go  liunt  for  white  people.     P'r'aps  kill  'em." 

"  And  we  —  " 

"  You  stay  here  with  squaws." 

There  was  no  trace  of  humor  in  the  woman's  voice 
or  face.  She  was  simply  telling  facts  as  she  knew 
them. 

"  You  git  oft'  to-night,  go  tell  white  peonle,"  she  added, 
rising  to  leave  the  hut. 


142 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


''When  shall  we  try  it?"  eagerly  mqiiired  Rob  and 
Hugh,  in  a  breath. 

"  When  umjaik  (grouse)  call  free  times." 
And  she  was  tjone. 

Preparations  for  departure  were  hastily  made.  The 
rifles,  of  which,  fortunately,  the  Ayans  had  not  yet  seen 
fit  to  deprive  them,  were  carefully  examined. 

"What   day  of  the  month   is  it?"  asked  Nat,  while 
they  were  resting  on  their  arms,  listening  for  the  signal. 
•'  The  twenty-ninth  of  June,  my  boy." 
"  And  how  far  are  we  from  the  old  fort,  papa  ?  " 
"  About  two  hundred  and  fii'tv  miles." 
"  Then,  if  we  start  to-night,  we  shall  get  there  before 
the  tenth  of  July,  sha'n't  we,  sir  ?  " 

••  Please  God,"  replied  his  father,  earnestly,  "  we  shall 
be  there  0>  the  fifth,  at  the  latest.  Then  we  can  prepare 
for  trouble,  and,  if  they  have  not  yet  arrived,  we  can 
even  go  up  the  Yukon  a  bit  to  meet  them.  But  I  think 
they  will  be  there,  for  we  allowed  several  days  to  spare, 
and  Dick  always  was  a  prompt  fellow." 

For  half  an  hour  nobody  spoke.  Then  Teddy  started  up 
and  put  his  hand  to  his  ear.  The  others  listened  intently. 
"  Oo-oo-ou  !  "  the  sound  came  faintly  from  the  forest. 
The  Buttons  started  to  their  feet  and  peered  out  of  the 
hut.  What  was  their  disappointment  to  find  that  the 
Indian  —  presumably  Loklok  —  occupying  the  hut  oppo- 
site and  almost  adjoining  their  own  had  left  his  front 
entrance  wide  open,  so  that  it  would  have  been  almost 


AN  ESCAPE,  AND  A   NEW  ENEMY. 


143 


impossible  for  live  men  and  a  big  dog  to  get  past  and  out 
through  tlie  narrow  passage-way  already  referred  to 
without  discovery.  They  softly  withdrew  into  the 
recesses  of  their  own  apartment  for  further  deliberation. 

"  Oo-oo-oo  !  Oo-oo-oo  !  "  plainer  than  before.  The 
grouse  was  getting  impatient. 

A  low  exclamation  from  Nat  directed  the  attention  of 
the  rest  to  Carlo,  who  was  thrusting  his  black  snout 
between  the  spruce  limbs  forming  the  rear  wall  of  the 
hut.  The  close  air  of  the  place  disturbed  the  Newfound- 
land, and,  on  being  checked  at  the  front  door,  he  was 
bound  to  get  out  by  hook  or  crook. 

The  dog's  instinct  had  led  him  to  the  loosest  place  in 
the  wall.  His  masters  took  the  hint,  and  softlv  widened 
the  aperture  that  Carlo's  nose  had  begun.  In  three  min- 
ntes  it  was  large  enough  to  allow  a  human  body  to  pass, 
and  one  by  one  the  captives  —  for  such  they  practically 
were  —  squeezed  through. 

How  delicious  the  cold  night  air,  after  the  foul,  tainted 
atmosphere  of  tke  Ayan  hut !  The  dogs  discovered  them 
at  once,  and  set  up  a  doleful  howling,  but  the  natives 
were  apparently  too  well  used  to  midnight  concerts  of 
that  sort  to  trouble  themselves  as  to  its  cause. 

The  very  uproar  made  by  these  canine  performers 
served,  in  fact,  to  cover  the  slight  noise  made  by  the 
escaping  party.  They  crept  around  behind  the  huts,  Nat 
holding  Carlo  by  the  collar,  and  Mr.  Dutton  leading  the 
way  down  to  the  shore  of  the  river. 


144 


THE   HE  I)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Joe  and  Jim  were  wide  awake,  and  liad  managed,  dur- 
ing the  earlier  liours  of  the  night,  to  edge  the  raft  ofV 
from  tlie  banks,  so  that  it  swung  free  in  deep  water,  lieid 
oniv  bv  the  rope. 

One  (hirk  fo.rni  after  anotlier  crept  on  l)oard.  A 
rptick  sweep  of  Joe's  sliar})  hunting-knife  severed  the 
tightly  drawn  hawser,  and  aw^ay  swept  the  raft  to 
freedom. 

"Glorious!  glorious!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Button,  in  low 
tones,  gazing  back  at  the  fast  dwindling  village,  where 
nothing  was  stirring  but  the  wolfish  dogs,  who  howled  a 
dismal  farewell  from  the  landincr. 

The  energies  of  all  the  party  were  now  bent  on  keeping 
the  raft  free  from  obstructions.  Once  they  grounded  on 
a  mud  fiat.  but.  by  poling  the  free  end  of  the  raft  up- 
stream, they  got  the  force  of  the  current  to  help  tliem, 
and  presently  swung  off  again.  The  sun  rose  brightly 
shortly  after  two  o'clock,  but  the  refugees  dared  take  no 
moment  of  rest.  Hugh  managed  to  secure  half  a  dozen 
grayling  as  they  swept  along,  and  these  were  cooked  over 
a  fire  of  twigs  hastily  collected  at  tiie  lower  end  of  a 
small  island.  Avliere  they  ventured  to  halt  a  few  minutes 
after  ten  hours'  steady  progress. 

At  noon  they  reached  another  lake,  and  here  their 
advance  was  slow,  as  hardly  a  breath  of  wind  was  stii-- 
ring.  The  rays  of  the  sun  were  intensely  hot,  and  the 
attacks  of  both  mosquitoes  and  gnats  incessant. 

By  six  o'clock  they  had  reached  the  lower  end  of  the 


1^ 

is 

■ 

!  ' 


AN  ESCAPE,  AND  A   ^,E]V  ENEMY 


14;") 


lake,  and  just  at  the  outlet  they  ventured  to  enjoy  an 
hour's  refreshing  rest. 

Hugh  knocked  over  a  brace  o*'  spruce  grouse  with  his 
shotgun,  and  these,  with  a  mess  of  fish  caught  by  little 
Nat  during  their  tedious  sail  across  the  lake,  made  a  very 
good  supper. 

It  now  seemed  improbable  that  the  Indians  would  pur- 
sue them  closely,  so  long  a  time  had  elapsed  without 
their  appearing  in  the  rear.  All  the  Alaskan  tribes, 
Mr.  Button  knew,  were  sluggish  in  their  disposition,  and 
preferred  to  hunt  their  game  down  deliberately  rather 
than  with  undue  haste. 

At  a  little  after  seven  the  raft  resumed  its  voyage, 
keeping  steadily  onward  until  midnight.  A  heavy  fog 
now  set  in,  and  the  leader,  confident  that  the  savages 
would  not  follow  in  the  darkne.ss  or  gray  dusk,  with  a 
risk  of  ])eing  caught  in  a  storm,  came  to  anchor  against 
a  large  boulder,  just  under  the  lee  of  a  little  knoll  crowned 
with  spruces.  All  hands  went  ashore,  taking  the  most 
valuable  of  the  property  with  them,  as  a  precaution 
against  sudden  attack.  Tents  were  pitched,  and  the 
weary  crew  were  soon  as  sound  asleep  as  if  they  were  in 
their  own  comfortable  beds  at  home,  instead  of  the  fron- 
tier of  Alaska,  surrounded  by  known  and  unknown 
dangers. 

Quietly  the  little  company  on  the  embankment  slept ; 
so  quietly,  so  soundly,  indeed,  that  they  did  not  perceive 
the  approach  of  an  enem}-  against  which  they  had  not 


146 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


thought  it  necessary  to  guard.  Attacks  of  wild  beasts 
they  did  not  fear,  for  had  they  not  their  good  rifles,  not 
to  mention  a  3G-calibre  revolver,  and  a  breech-loadiuc- 
shotgun  with  shells  charged  with  buckshot  ?  The  Ayans, 
they  felt  certain,  would  not  trouble  them,  separated  from 
them  as  they  were  by  leagues  of  fog-blanketed  river. 
What  other  foe  could  there  be  ? 

Ah,  one  they  never  suspected  ;  one  that  had  heretofore 
been  their  best  friend  ;  had.  indeed,  borne  them  and  their 
raft  swiftly  away  from  the  hostile  camp  by  night  and  day. 

You  know  now  ?  Yes,  the  rtvcr  itself.  The  treacher- 
ous Pelly  turned  against  them,  and  took  away  their  only 
means  of  reaching  their  friends  on  time.  Far  up  on  the 
spurs  of  the  Rockies,  two  days  before,  there  had  been  a 
tremendous  shower.  It  had  poured  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands, millions  of  hogsheads  of  water  on  the  snowy  slopes, 
and  on  the  broad  district  drained  by  the  head-waters  of 
the  Pelly  and  its  tributaries.  This  shower,  together  with 
the  suddenly  melted  snow,  had  turned  every  trickling 
streamlet  into  a  roaring  torrent.  Lake  after  lake  had 
felt  the  incoming  stream,  and  had  brimmed  to  overflowing, 
passing  the  freshet  wave  on  from  inlet  to  outlet.  The 
advancing  flood,  now  grown  more  cpiiet  and  gradual  in 
its  power,  had  pursued  the  flying  raftsmen  more  swiftly 
and  surely,  through  every  maze  in  the  forest,  around  every 
Ijend  of  the  river,  than  the  best  equipped  canoe-fleet  of 
the  Ayans. 

And  as  they  slept  it  reached  them.     The  men  and  boys 


.l.V   ESCAPE,  AND  A   NEW  EXEMV. 


14- 


were  safe  on  tlu;  (Miil)aiikniont  ;  but  tliero  was  the  raft ! 
Softly  tlio  river  pushed  its  lingers  under  the  heavy  logs ; 
lifted,  lifted,  lifted,  as  the  minutes  flew  hv,  until,  with 
one  swelling,  eddying  ripple,  it  drew  the  sturdy  old  craft 
away  from  its  moorings,  out  into  the  deep  current,  and 
swept  it  silently  down  tiie  stream  toward  the  sea. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


NAT  S    SI1A(;(;V    ITP. 


h 


ilATHER.  father,  wlun-o  is  the  raft  ?  " 

Mr.  Duttou  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  rubbed  his 
eyes.  There  was  the  river,  niiming  quietly 
between  its  wooded  banks,  as  lie  had  seen  it  tlie  evening 
before.     But  the  raft !     Ncnvhere  to  I'e  seen  I 

Mr.  Dutton's  hrst  move  was  to  secure  his  ritle,  and 
glance  at  the  lock. 

•"  The  Indiaiis  nmst  be  near  !  They  must  have  surprised 
us  during  the  night,  and,  having  taken  away  our  means 
of  escape,  the  cowards  mean  to  attack  us  only  when  we 
are  too  weak  and  bewildered  to  resist !  " 

By  this  time  the  boys  were  all  awake,  and  filled  with 
consternation  at  their  loss. 

'*  How  nmch  farther  is  it  to  the  fort  V"  asked  Hugh. 

"  Not  far  from  two  hundred  miles.  And  to-day  is  the 
first  of  July !     We  cannot  reach  it  by  the  tenth." 

"  But  why  not  build  a  new  raft,  father?  " 

Mr.  Button  pointed  sadly  to  the  little  heap  of  baggage 
they  had  brought  to  land  the  night  before.  Hugh's  eye 
followed  the  gesture,  and  wandered  quickly  over  the  bags 

148 


SAT'S  snAuav  pup. 


149 


;. 


iind  rifles.  Then  lie  sprang  to  where  they  were  lying, 
and  turned  them  over.  !t  was  of  no  use.  No  need  for 
his  fatlicr  to  put  into  words  wluit  was  only  too  plain  to 
all;  the  axes  had  been  left  on  the  raft! 

At  that  moment.  Joe.  the  Indian  j^iiide,  came  runnin,^' 
up  from  the  water's  edge.  He  evidently  had  made  a 
discovery. 

"No  Ayans!  "  he  said,  pointing  to  the  river. 

'•No  Ayans?     Another  tribe  is  on  our  iiei'ls,  then  ?  " 

"No.     Raft  not  carried  off.     Raft  iloat  away  itself." 

"Float  away  I  How  is  it  possible?"  demanded  Mr. 
Button,  incredulously. 

"  High  water  in  night.  Big  rain  in  mountains.  Now 
him  low  again.     See  !  " 

The  evidence  was  indisputable.  There  Vvas  a  mass  of 
drenched  sticks  and  leaves  left  stranded  on  one  of  the 
larixe  l)oulders  near  which  the  ark  of  their  safetv  liad  been 
moored.  All  rememljered  that  the  top  of  the  rock  had 
been  bare  and  .smooth  the  nii-iit  before. 

One  source  of  dread,  then,  was  removed.  In  much 
better  .spirits  than  at  lirst,  the  leader  gave  orders  to 
prepare  Ijreakfast. 

Here  again  trouble  immediately  arose.  Hugh's  rod. 
line,  and  reel  were  on  the  ill-fated  raft.  Fortunatelv,  his 
small  w^allet  of  flies  was  in  his  pocket.  Three  spare 
lengths  of  snell  were  found  tucked  away  in  it.  Oiie  of 
these  the  boy  knotted  on  to  a  piece  of  twine,  which  little 
Nat  produced  from  lih  pocket.     A  willow  rod  was  quickly 


150 


TUE  llED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


cut  from  a  thicket  lining  the  river  hank;  and,  by  stand- 
iiig  on  the  boulders,  well  out  toward  the  centre  of  the 
stream,  Hugh  found  he  could  make  a  tolerable  cast.  He 
first  tried  a  brown  hackle.  Finding  that  nothintj;  rose, 
he  changed  it  for  a  red  ibis.  At  the  third  cast  there  was 
a  splash  among  the  eddies  of  the  stream,  and  the  rod  bent 
almost  double. 

The  strain  came  so  quickly  that  the  fisherman  lost  his 
l)alance  and  plumped  fairly  into  the  river.  Fortunately, 
^'he  water  was  not  deep,  and  the  plunge  resulted  in  notli- 
ing  Avorse  than  an  extremely  cold  before-breakfast  dip. 
Teddy  rushed  to  the  rescue,  and,  after  ten  minutes'  care- 
ful manoeuvring,  —  for  Hugh  was  too  thorough  a  fisher- 
man to  throw  away  the  chance  of  killing  a  fine  fish  just 
for  a  ducking,  —  they  managed  to  land  the  game. 

It  proved  to  be  a  splendid  salmon,  weighing  at  least 
six  pounds.  Hugh  was  proud  enough  when  he  scramljled 
up  the  bank  bearing  tlie  big  fish,  his  beautiful  gra}'  sides 
glittering  in  the  sunlight. 

Meanwhile,  Rob  had  been  in  no  less  luck.  Within 
twenty  rods  of  the  camp,  he  had  started  up  a  rabbit,  and 
Ijauired  him  at  the  first  shot. 

OCT 

'•  Good  for  you,  my  l)oys !  "  exclaimed  the  ex-manu- 
facturer, as  the  two  purveyors  came  into  camp  almost 
sinudtaneously.  "  There's  not  much  danger  of  starving 
while  vuu  are  on  the  commissariat !  " 

Teddy,  who  had  a  wonderful  knack  of  cooking,  pre- 
pared some  Ijroiled  slices  of  salmon  in  fine  style.     And, 


NAT'S  SHAGGY  PUP. 


151 


though  tea  and  coffee  were  among  the  lost  stores,  the 
whole  party  declared  they  had  never  sat  down  to  a  better 
breakfast  than  Teddy's  salmon,  some  hard  biscuit,  which 
luckily  had  been  brought  ashore,  and  glacier  water  from 
the  river. 

As  soon  as  the  meal  was  over,  preparations  were  made 
for  an  immediate  start. 

"  First  of  all,"  said  Mr.  Button,  '•  let  us  know  exactly 
what  we  have  for  provisions  and  other  baggage.  Ted, 
take  up  one  thing  at  a  time,  and  let  me  write  them 
down." 

The  list,  when  complete,  was  as  follows :  — 

Two  Winchester  rifles. 

One  Billiard  shotgun. 

Two  hundred  cartridges  for  the  former,  and  half  that 
number  loaded  paper  shells  for  the  Ballard. 

About  forty-eight  pounds  pilot-bread. 

About  one-half  peck  Indian  meal. 

About  one  pint  salt. 

Two  cotton-drilling  tents. 

One  mosquito-bar  tent. 

Every  one  of  the  party  had  a  pocket-knife,  and  two 
had  small  tin  dippers  on  their  belts.  Mr.  Dutton  pro- 
duced his  compass,  which  was  now  to  be  their  guide,  in 
company  with  the  river,  to  Fort  Selkirk. 

The  two  Indians  packed  and  shouldered  the  tents,  and 
the  provisions  were  distributed  as  fa.irly  as  possible  among 
the  rest,  according  to  their  strength. 


■ns 


?      ! 


152 


THE  REl)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA, 


'•  Forward  —  march  !  "  called  Mr.  Diittoii,  cheerily. 
Joe  went  first,  and  Jim  brought  up  the  rear,  the  rest 
trailing  along  between. 

For  an  hour  or  more,  no  great  difficulty  was  experi- 
enced. They  kept  along  the  height  of  land  within  hear- 
ing of  the  river,  following  patiently  all  its  wayward 
crooks  and  turns.  At  length,  however,  they  began  to 
come  upon  fallen  trees  in  greater  and  greater  al)un- 
dance. 

Now,  the  hardest  possible  tramping  in  wild  lands  is 
where  growing  timber  has  fallen  and  died  with  its  limbs 
sticking  out  in  every  direction.  This  kind  of  a  district  is 
called  "  slash,"  and  is  as  far  as  possible  avoided  by 
hunters. 

Tlie  Indian  in  advance  stopped,  dodged  about  here  and 
there,  and  tried  every  possible  chance  of  an  escape  or 
detour  :  but  it  was  of  no  u  «' :  tlirough  the  timber  their  path 
lay,  and  through  it  they  nuist  go.  There  had  been  large 
forest  fires  there  at  some  time  within  the  last  generation, 
and  the  bleached  or  charred  trunks  i)rotruded  mournfully 
from  the  entangled  mass  of  underbrush.  Hour  after  hour 
the  weary  travellers  toiled  over  and  through  this  ten-ible 
chevaux-dc-fnse.  Their  clothes  were  torn,  thinr  limbs 
bruised,  and  tlieir  feet  aching.  Oftentimes  they  would 
step  from  a  slippery  log  and  sink  in  a  slough,  covered 
with  treacherous  moss,  up  to  the  waist.  The  mosquitoes 
—  those  ever  present  torments  —  fairly  swarm  in  tliis 
hraU,    as    the    French-Canadian    hunters   call   the    burnt 


I 


11 


NAT'S  SHAGGY  PUP. 


153 


district.  Poor  Carlo's  eyelids  were  swollen  l)y  the  bites 
of  the  ravenous  little  insects  so  that  he  could  hardly  see. 

Not  more  than  eight  miles  had  been  traversed  when  Mr. 
Button  began  to  look  about  for  a  camping-place  for  the 
night.  A  clump  of  boulders,  exquisitely  draped  with 
ferns,  showed  itself  above  the  desolate  tract  of  white 
trees,  about  half  a  league  ahead. 

Upon  its  summit  was  a  little  grove  of  spruces,  fresh  and 
green,  a  refreshing  sight  in  the  midst  of  such  dreary 
wastes  of  dead  timber.  Toward  this  knoll  they  pressed, 
gaining  strength  at  the  sight,  like  horses  headed  for 
home. 

As  they  advanced,  the  passage  of  the  fallen  trees  actu- 
ally became  less  arduous.  No  one  noticed  this,  however, 
until  Teddy  exclaimed  :  — 

"•  Faith,  isn't  it  good,  then,  to  git  into  a  rale  path  ag'in  I 
Sure,  I'd  forgotten  the  looks  o'  wan.  I  had." 

\iy  a  simultaneous  impulse  the  whole  train  halted  in 
their  tracks,  and  looked  at  the  voung  Hibernian  as  if  he 
were  crazy. 

"  1  said  it's  a  path  we're  in."  he  reaffirmed,  stoutlv. 
*'  If  ve  don't  belave  it,  look  fer  verselves.  D'yer  see  the 
branches  broken  off,  iest  bevant  ? 

Again,  as  cme  uian,  they  looked  at  the  point  indicated, 
and  then  at  the  uround  at  their  feet.  Teddy  was  riuht 
this  time.  They  had  struck,  without  knowing  it,. a  trail 
—  unmistakable,  though  faint. 

*'  The    question    is,"    said    Mr.    Dutton,    breaking    the 


154 


rilP:  ItED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


silence,    "  wlietlior    we    are    deliberately   walking    into 
another  Indian  village." 

Something  as  near  a  smile  as  ever  lights  an  Indian 
face  agitated  the  stolid  features  of  the  two  guides. 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  an  Ayan  trail  ?  "  asked  the  leader, 
not  noticing  the  flicker  of  merriment  in  the  faces  of  the 
two  Indians. 

Joe  merely  shook  his  head,  but  John  solved  the  prob- 
lem with  one  word,  — 

''  Bears  ! " 

Teddy's  cheeks  grew  pale  under  his  freckles. 

''  Snre,  is  it  to  them  bastes  we'll  be  afther  comin'  all 
this  way ! "  he  muttered,  glancing  in  every  direction. 

He  did  not  have  much  time  for  reflection,  however. 
At  that  moment  the  expedition  emerged  on  a  small  open 
spnre.  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a  pool,  surrounded  by 
low.  l)oggy  banks.  The  trees  near  by  had  mostly  fallen, 
and  lay  about  in  all  stages  of  decay.  But  it  was  not  this 
that  arrested  the  attention  of  our  friends. 

A  little  to  one  side,  not  far  from  the  "  path,"  were 
three  animals,  busily  engaged  in  pawing  and  pushing  over 
the  prostrate  trunks  and  roots  in  search  of  larvte.  Now 
nnd  then  one  would  run  out  his  tongue  and  pick  off  a 
delicate  morsel.  No  bevy  of  school  children,  off  on  a 
picnic,  gathering  l)lue})erries,  could  have  enjoyed  them- 
selves more  heartily  than  these  great,  furry  creatures. 
For,  beyond  a  doubt,  they  were  good-sized  brown  bears, 
everv  one  of  them. 


NAT'S   SHAGGY  PUP. 


155 


The  moment  the  two  parties  saw  each  other,  Teddy's 
voice  was  ra»ised  in  a  cry  of  terror ;  and  the  three  hears, 
without  waiting  for  a  further  introduction  to  the  stran- 
gers, wheeled  about  and  dashed  into  the  hnde  at  the 
top  of  their  speed.  It  was  well  known  to  Mr.  Dutton 
that  the  bears  of  the  Northwest,  while  extremely  danger- 
ous if  broiiLi'lit  to  bay  or  surprised  at  close  quarters,  always 
obey  their  tirst  instinct  to  run,  when  they  can  get  the 
vchance. 

Convinced  that  there  was  no  further  danger  from  their 
ursine  neighbors,  he  gave  the  word  to  advance  ;  and  an 
hour  later  the  green  oasis  was  reached  in  safety.  It  was 
elevated  about  sixty  feet  from  the  surrounding  plateau, 
and  was  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river,  whose 
rushing  waters  could  be  jolainly  heard.  At  the  summit 
of  the  mound  was  a  broken  heap  of  large  rooks,  among 
the  crevices  of  which  grew  the  little  spruces  that  had 
escaped  the  fire,  or  sprung  up  since  its  date.  It  was 
plain  that  the  whole  hill  was  a  mere  pile  of  boulders,  cov- 
ered ages  ago  with  moss,  decaj^ed  wood,  and  slowly  form- 
ing forest  mould,  thus  affording  sustenance  for  the  ferns 
and  larger  growths  upon  its  rugged  sides.  Nat  soon 
s])ied  a  sheltered  cranny  among  the  rocks,  large  enough  to 
.•H'conunodate  the  whole  party,  and  here  they  resolved  to 
camp  for  the  night.  At  the  base  of  the  knoll  was  a 
spring  of  delicious  cold  water,  the  ground  round  about 
sliowing  marks  of  many  generations  of  bears,  caribou,  and 
moose,  who  had  slaked  their  thirst  from  its  clear  depths. 


rr 


156 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Strips  of  salmon  were  soon  sizzling  most  appetizmgly 
over  the  fire,  the  mosquito-bar  was  thrown  over  the  rocks 
in  such  a  way  that  any  one  not  actually  employed  could 
shelter  himself  from  his  noisy  little  foes.  Overhead,  the 
dark  spruces  ..L. etched  their  protecting  arms. 

While  the  other  boys  were  deep  in  consultation  whether 
to  turn  the  salmon,  and  the  older  members  of  the  party 
were  getting  water,  unstrapping  tlie   packs,  and  recon- 
noitring the  !.L  iToundings.  Master  Nathaniel  took   it  into 
his  head  to  explore  the  snug  niclie,  among  the  boulders, 
which  they  had  selected  for  a  bed-room.     He  scrambled 
up,  therefore,  over  the  slippery  spruce  needles  and   jagged 
rocks  until  he  reached  wliat  seemed  to  be  the  end  of  the 
cave  or  shelter,  formed   by  the  overlapping  stone.     But 
no  !  a  cluster  of  Ijroad-leaved  ferns  had  concealed  a  fur- 
ther opening.     The    boy   pressed    forward    eagerly,    and 
squeezed  himself  through  the  narrow  passage,  wliich  pres- 
ently grew  wider,  until  it  exi)anded  into  a  sort  of  inner 
cave.     The  further  end  of  this  subterranean  chamber  was 
a  triile  lighter,  as  if  there  were  another  entrance  in  that 
direction ;  ]jut  where  Nat  was  it  seemed  dark  as  night. 

The  little  fellow  liad  hardly  gained  his  feet,  after  the 
scramble  on  hands  and  knees,  when  a  queer  sound  caught 
his  ear.  It  was  a  low,  wheezing,  snarling  noise,  witli 
now  and  then  a  sort  of  hoarse  squeal,  like  that  of  a  pig 
with  a  very  bad  cold. 

Nat's  curiosity  was  aroused.  As  his  eyes  became  accus- 
tomed to  the  dim  liglit  of  tlie  cave,  lie  perceived  a  wrig- 


NAT'S  SUAGGY  ITP. 


157 


I 


gliiig  iiiound  of  grayish  black  fur.  At  first  he  thought 
Carlo  had  made  his  way  into  the  cave  ahead  of  him  ;  but 
a  moment's  observation  convinced  him  of  his  error.  It 
was  not  a  shaggy  Newfoundland,  venting  his  displeasure 
so  inhospitably  in  the  corner.  There  were  plainly  tvut 
animals,  whatever  they  were,  making  the  uncouth  noises, 
and  showing  their  little  white  teeth  at  the  intruder. 

Now,  Nat,  as  we  have  seen,  was  a  strangely  courageous 
boy.  He  absolutely  did  not  seem  to  know  what  fear 
meant.  He  always  acted  as  if  he  knew  his  father  were 
close  at  hand,  and  that  no  evil  could  possibly  befall  him 
so  long  as  he  behaved  well  and  did  as  he  would  be  done 
by. 

When  he  saw  the  furry  pair  on  the  leaves  in  the 
corner,  he  was  by  no  means  alarmed,  but,  advancing, 
began  to  speak  to  them  coaxingly,  holding  his  hand  out 
as  he  did  so. 

The  little  creatures,  after  all,  did  not  seem  disposed  to 
be  hostile,  but  rather  cuddled  up  to  the  boy  with  con- 
tented little  whines  and  grunts.     Nat's  heart  was  won  at 


once. 


'"•  Thev  nmst  be  little  dogs!"  he  said  to  himself. 
''  There  are  wild-cats  in  the  woods,  I've  heard  Joe  say ; 
and  why  shouldn't  there  be  wild  dogs  as  well  ?  " 

It  then  occurred  to  his  active  brain  that  one  of  them 
would  make  a  good  play-fellow  for  Carlo  —  at  least  over 
night.  If  he  wanted  to  go  back  to  his  nest  in  the  morn- 
ing he  could. 


158 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Accordingly,  Nat  stepped  out  to  the  farther  end  of  the 
cave,  and  was  delighted  to  find  that  an  easy  and  well 
worn  path  led  out  into  the  open  air,  over  a  fern-draped 
rock,  from  which  he  did  not  doubt  he  could  easily  climb 
up  to  the  camp. 

Retracing  his  steps,  he  lifted  the  smaller  of  the  two 
puppies,  as  he  called  them,  in  his  arms.  The  animal  was 
bigger  than  he  thought,  and  proved  to  be  about  all  the  boy 
could  lift.  Although  he  seemed  very  young  and  helpless, 
his  claws  were  remarkably  sharp,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
minute  or  two  had  inflicted  one  or  two  painful  scratches 
on  his  captor's  wrists. 

'•  Well,"  exclaimed  Nat,  out  loud,  ''  I  never  in  my  life 
saw  such  a  heavy  puppy  !  " 

There  were  bones  scattered  here  and  there  about  the 
mouth  of  the  cave. 

"That's  where  the  father  and  mother  dog  have  had 
their  suppers,"  thought  Nat,  pausing  to  take  breath. 

To  return  for  a  few  moments  to  the  rest  of  the  party: 
they  all  were  so  busily  engaged  in  performing  their 
various  tasks  that  they  did  not  for  some  time 
notice  the  absence  of  the  youngest  member  of  tlic 
exjjedition. 

Mr.  Dutton  walked  down  to  the  river  bank,  in  a  vain 
hope  of  catching  a  glimpse  of  the  lost  raft.  The  terrible 
exertions  of  the  day's  walk  showed  him  what  a  journey 
was  ahead.  He  could  hardly  hope  to  ivach  Fort  Selkirk 
inside  of  ten  days.     Could  the  boys,  young  and  unaccus- 


•9 

'1 


"A    (iKIZZLY    CUB.       *  DROP    IT,  NAT  !  '  " 


I  PI 


!     i\ 


yAT'S  SHAGGY  PUP. 


lt)l 


toined  to  hardship  as  they  were,  endure  the  fearful  strain  ? 
IJesides,  what  if  they  reached  the  fort,  as  now  seemed 
inevitable,  too  late  to  connect  with  his  brother  and  wife  ? 
'i'rue,  it  had  been  agreed  that,  in  absence  of  any  letter  or 
sign  at  the  trysting-place,  either  party  reaching  it  alone 
sliould  wait  for  the  other,  if  it  took  all  summer.  But 
what  if  the  Sitka  expedition  should  fancy,  by  some  sup- 
posed traces  or  by  false  advices,  that  he  and  the  boys  had 
gone  on.  down-stream  ? 

The  n»ore  poor  Mr.  Dutton  thought  about  it,  the  worse 
he  felt,  and  the  more  bitterly  he  upbraided  himself  for 
taking  his  family  upon  such  an  unheard-of  trip.  His  best 
tools  and  half  his  provisions  were  swept  away.  Yes,  and 
a  large  package  of  lu-^ifer  matches,  which  had  been  left  on 
the  raft  that  unluckv  night.     Without  sure  means  for  a 

t  CD 

fire,  witliout  provisions,  without  ammunition,  —  how  long 
could  sucli  a  large  party  sul)sist  at  Fort  Selkirk,  a  mere 
patch  of  blackened  ruins  in  a  tract  of  country  as  desolate, 
save  for  wandering  tribes  of  Indians,  as  if  it  had  been 
smitten  l»y  a  plague  ? 

Mr.  I>atton  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  and  groaned 
aloud.  His  anxiety  and  self-reproach  seemed  almost  more 
than  he  could  bear,  as  he  turned  his  weary  stops  back 
towards  tiie  camp,  where  he  must  speak  cheerfully,  and 
keep  up  the  spirits  of  the  rest. 

Hugh  and  Rob  were  entirely  absorbed  in  a  discussion 
over  the  cooking  of  the  salmon.  Hugh  maintained  that 
it  should  b(^  laid  on  a  previously  heated  rock,  and  so 


i 


162 


TJIK  liEl)   MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


>   ill 


!  i 


bilked.  Robert  was  in  favor  of  roasting  or  broiling  on  a 
spit,  Indian  fashion. 

Joe  came  back  from  a  sliort  excursion  into  the  forest, 
with  both  hands  full  of  what  appeared  to  be  small  green 
bulbs. 

Teddy,  as  chief  cook,  gave  the  vegetables  a  dignified 
snitf.     Then  his  features  expanded  with  delight. 

'•  Hooray  !  "  he  shouted.    *•  Sure,  it's  ingyuns  ye  have  !  " 

Onions  they  were  —  small,  to  be  sure,  at  this  season, 
but  with  the  "  rale  tang  to  'em,"  as  Teddy  announced. 

Jim  had  taken  the  Ballard  with  him,  and  now  joined 
the  campers,  throwing  down  at  their  feet  as  he  did  so  a 
fine  ptarmigan,  such  as  abound  in  south  central  Alaska, 
and  the  adjoining  province. 

'•  Shtuffin'  fer  the  bur-rd  !  "  ejaculated  Ted,  feasting  his 
eyes  on  the  suddenly  accumulated  stock  of  provisions,  in 
anticipation  of  the  morrow's  breakfast. 

'•  Where  is  Nat  ?  "  suddenly  asked  Mr.  Button,  looking 
round  him. 

"  He  climbed  up  those  rocks  just  now,  sir,"  answered 
Hugh,  his  whole  being  concentrated  on  the  slice  of  salmon 
browning  odorously  over  the  blaze. 

Mr.  Button  was  not  satisfied,  and  sprang  up  to  the 
highest  point  of  the  bluff,  calling, '*  Nat !  Nat!"  Pres- 
ently he  heard  an  answer,  just  below  him. 

Nat  had  found  the  big,  shaggy  '"puppy"  a  hard  lug, 
and  nothing  but  real  Button  pluck  kept  him  from  drop- 
ping his  heavy,  squealing,  struggling  burden. 


5.«j^^r/<r,.«*«i«V';^gn:-'. 


NAT'S  SllAQCY   I'll'. 


163 


a 
II 


Up  he  mounted,  umcli  out  of  hreutli.  All  at  once  lie 
heard  his  father's  shouts. 

'•  Here  1  am.  papa,"  he  answered,  looking  up. 

At  the  same  moment  the  father's  eyes  ftjll  on  the  ani- 
'ual  in  his  boy's  arms.  The  man's  face  al)solutely  hlaiu^hed 
with  terror.  The  two  Indians  gained  his  side,  and  from 
the  three  men  came  a  confused  medley  of  cries  that  smote 
on  the  boy's  ears  as  he  tugged  away  at  his  load. 

••  A  (jt'izzly  cub  !  A  <jrlzzhj  !  Drop  it,  N(U  !  JJrop  it, 
for  your  life  !  " 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TO    THE    RESCUE  ! 

GRIZZLY,    a   grizzly   cub ! "    re- 
peatod  Joe  and  his  mate.    "  Come 
\  quick,  Nat  I     The  old  one   must 
be  near." 

Nat  mu.st  have  failed  to  catch 
the  import  of  their  cries,  for  he 
still  toiled  upward,  despite  the 
warning  gestures  of  tlie  men,  and 
the  renen'cd  struggles  of  the  cub. 
Mr.  Diitton.  in  an  ;i<ii:onv  of  dread  lest  he  .should  be  too 
late,  started  down  to  meet  the  lad.  He  had  hardly  cleared 
the  first  boulder  when  a  hoar.se  panting  was  lu'ard  by  all, 
and  a  crashing  among  the  underbrush  at  the  foot  of  the 
knoll.  Tile  noise  ceased  as  suddenly  as  it  l)egaii.  and  the 
anxious  fatluM-  IioimmI  for  a  moment  that  the  danger  was 
past.  He  reached  Nat's  side  in  safety,  almost  tore  the 
cub  from  Lis  arms,  laid  the  animal  down  on  the  ground, 
and,  catching  up  his  son  without  a  word,  started  for  the 
camp. 

As   he   did  so,  a   low,   deep    growl  came   from  below, 
together   with   a    renewed  trampling   of    dry   twigs   and 

1U4 


L» 


TO  THE  rescue: 


16.") 


re- 


buslies.  Then,  perhaps  for  the  first  time,  Nat  realized 
wliat  he  had  done.  The  she-bear,  having  entered  her  den 
and  discovered  the  absence  of  one  of  her  twins,  was 
retnrning  and  charging  fiercely  up  tlie  hill  on  their  trail. 

In  another  moment  her  head  and  shoulders  appeared, 
and  then  her  whole  huge  form,  as  she  scrambled  up  the 
rough  hillside  with  marvellous  rapidity. 

On  reaching  her  cub,  she  paused  and  licked  it ;  then 
lifted  her  head  and  looked  up  irresolutely  after  the 
retreatiu"'  forms  of  her  unwelcome  visitors. 

Robert,  by  this  time,  had  gained  a  good  position,  rifle 
in  hand  ;  but  Joe  told  him  not  to  fire  unless  the  life  of 
his  father  or  brother  should  actually  be  hi  peril.  It  often 
takes  a  dozen  well  placed  balls  to  kill  a  full-grown 
grizzly,  and  the  risk  of  merely  enraging  her  was  too 
great. 

The  shaggy  mother,  relieved  at  finding  her  offspring 
safe,  now  renewed  her  maternal  attentions  to  it :  and 
soon,  her  natiu'al  affections  mastering  her  anger,  she  pro- 
ceeded to  trundle  it  along  home,  partly  lifting  it  by  the 
back  of  the  neck,  like  a  gigantic  kitten,  partly  pushing  it 
with  her  huge  paws,  of  which  an  ox  might  well  have 
stood  in  terror.  As  Mr.  Button  reached  the  sunnnit  of 
the  knoll,  the  grizzly  disappeared  among  the  wilhjw  scrub 
at  its  base. 

The  Indians  earnestly  counselled  that  the  bears  should 
not  b(^  a[)proached.  They  believed  that,  if  they  were  not 
disturbed,  the  she-bear  would   not  leave  her   young    to 


r  d     'w ' 


!   a 


166 


THE  liED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


attack  the  camp.  Ami  the  chance  of  killhig  lier,  in  ca^o 
of  a  fight,  without  injury  to  some  of  the  party,  was  very 
small.  ' 

The  resnlt  proved  that  the  guides'  reasoning  was  cor- 
rect. A. watch  was  k^pt  up  during  the  night,  but  noth- 
ing more  was  heard  from  the  ursine  neighl^ors.  Early  in 
the  morning,  the  party  ••  folded  their  tents  like  the  Arabs, 
and  as  silently  stole  away." 

It  was  very  rare,  Joe  informed  them,  that  a  irylzzly  cub 
was  still  so  small  at  that  season.  They  arc  usually  born 
m  January  or  February,  and  by  the  time  midsummer 
arrives  are  able  to  sliift  for  themselves. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  follow  our  friends  in  tlieir  lono-. 
wearisome  tramp  througli  the  forest.  At  the  end  oi  the 
tenth  day.  Hugli.  looking  down  from  a  higli  ),lulf  by 
the  river's  bard.,  beheld  a  sight  that  made  his'heart  beat 
with  delight. 

His  shout  of  joy  called  the  rest  to  his  side. 

''  The  raft  !  The  raft  !  "  he  cried,  pointing  to  a  l)end 
in  the  river  just  below. 

Sure  enough.  tluMv  was  the  old  craft,  grounded  high 
and  dry.  one  end  of  it  at  least  on  a  nuid  bani<.  All 
liands  rushed  down,  jind,  not  without  more  or  less  wet- 
ting, chnnbcred  on  board. 

Not  one  arti<-]e  „f  their  belongings  remained  on  the 
raft,  except  a  rusty  axe.  Kve.y  other  scrap  had  been 
swept  away  by  fl,„,d.  wind,  or  wild  bensts. 

The   raft   was  in  t,>lerably  good   repair,  and,  with  the 


TO   THE  RESCUE : 


167 


aid  of  the  axe,  the  men  soon  had  it  fitted  out  for  another 
voyage. 

'•  A  long  push,  a  strong  push,  and  a  push  all  together !  " 
shouted  Robert.  The  stubborn  old  raft  moved  inch  by 
inch,  then  slid  off  the  bar.  and  floated  grandly  away  once 
more,  bearing  its  little  band  of  adventurers,  young  and 
old. 

In  due  time  they  arrived  at  Fort  Selkirk.  They 
landed  eagerly,  and  searches!  about  for  traces  of  their 
friends,  the  date  Ijeing  July  14.  or  four  days  beyond  that 
appointed  for  the  meeting. 

Traces  there  were  in  abundance,  but  no  letter.  A 
violent  storm,  of  which  they  had  experienced  but  the 
edge,  had  evidently  passed  over  the  place  not  long  before, 
and  nearlv  obliterated  the  tracks  of  the  visitors.  But 
.loe  and  Jim  had  sharp  eyes,  and  they  presently  pointed 
out  to  Mr.  Button  .iie  little  heel-prints  of  the  ladies,  as 
well  as  the  firmly  delined  marks  left  by  the  lieutenant's 
lioot.  There  were  numerous  other  tracks,  seeminglv 
older  than  tiiese.  which  the  uuidcs  did  not  understand 
One  thing  was  plain  :  tlic  salt-water  branch  of  the  expe- 
dition had  reachcil  the  spot.  and.  without  waiting  even 
one  night,  iiad  contimied  tluMr  journey  —  ])resumal)ly 
down  the  Yukon,  whose  waters,  increased  at  this  point  by 
the  whole  mass  of  the  swift  Pclly.  rolled  downward 
toward  the  sea  in  a  broad,  turbid  flood.  Whv  the  lieu- 
tenant  had  de})arted  i^o  hastily,  witliout  leaving  any  mes- 
sage, was  something  Mr.  Dutton  could  not  comprehend. 


1U8 


THE  RED  MOUNrAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Still,  there  had  doubtless  been  so.ne  good  reason,  and   the 
party  would  probably  be  found  encamped  near  by 

Having  reached  the  site  of  the  fort  in  the  early  evening 
the  travellers  spent  the  night  near  the  blackened  chimnej-s 
and  next  morning  took  raft  once  more,  full  of  expectation 
ot  meetnig  their  dear  ones  soon. 

For  two  days,   however,   nothing  was   seen    of   then) 

At  the  end  of  the  third,  a   faint  sound  of  nmskets  was 

heard -welcome  break  in  the  silence  that  had  reigned  so 
long. 

Half  a  mile  more  by  river  bro,,gl,t  them  into  the  very 
midst  of  a  stirring  scene:  A  raft,  mnoh  like  their  own 
but  shghtly  larger  ;  three  women  and  several  men  n|xm" 
It ;  smoke  and  flashes  of  fire  issning  fron.  the  n.uskets  of 
the  latter.     On  either  shore,  skulking  hehind  trees,  dark 
ugly  iorms.  that  could  be  no  other  than  Indians. 

"  To  the  rescue  !  "  shouted  the  boys,  lustily,  bearing 
down  upon  the  expedition  and  the  craft  that  had  thus 
been  brought  to  bay. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


UNDER   THE    EAliTH. 


: 


|RS.  BUTTON  had  barely  time  to  draw  Flossie 
into  the  shelter  of  one  of  the  chinuieys  of  the 
old  fort,  still  standing,  when  the  storm  burst 
upon  them  in  all  its  fury.  The  men  occupied  themselves 
in  covering  the  goods  on  the  raft,  and  making  everything 
fast.  The  wind  increased  in  violence  from  moment  to 
moment,  and  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents. 

Fortunately,  there  remained  the  greater  part  of  the  fire- 
place, at  the  base  of  the  chinuiey.  It  was  as  larg"  as  a 
fair-sized  bedroom  would  be  in  oiu'  own  part  of  the  coun- 
try. Evidently,  the  early  traders  had  intended  to  keep 
warm  during  the  long,  terrible  winters  of  the  North,  where 
even  the  Indians  do  not  venture  far  from  their  huts,  and 
the  desolate  forests  and  bare,  mossy  plains  are  left  to  the 
undisputed  reign  of  the  moose,  the  wolf,  and  the  cariljou. 
Although  the  rain  trickled  down  the  sides  of  the  chim- 
ney, the  dismayed  little  company  in  the  old  fireplace  soon 
perceived  that  the  small  rivulets  finding  their  way  over 
the  rough  bricks  did  not  increase  in  size.  They  afterward 
learned  that  the  fur-traders  had  an  ingenious  contrivance. 

KiO 


170 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


\   %' 


consisting  mainly  of  a  large  stone  slab  at  the  top  of  the 
c  nnney  which  eo„M  he  elosed  at  will  during  the  s.„nn.e., 
» l.e  .  only  ran,  fell,  and  the  fire  below  was  not  needed 

The  nnned  fireplaee.  therefore,  was  far  from  bein.  an 
..neon,  ortahle  shelter  f.-on,  the  storm,  and,  had  not  H,eir 
hea,..  been  heavy  with  disappoi„t,nent  and  app,.el,ensio„. 
the    hreewo,nen_it  we  count  little  Flossie  as  sueh- 
would  l,a^■e  really  enjoyed  the  fun. 
Hon-  the  wind  did  roar  about  the  .-ugged  old  chimney! 
0  lo,ved  down  the  Hue  in  t.nnpet  tones,  and  died  away 
...  doleful  n„„.,„„,«  .,,.„„,„,  „,,  f^„,  ^^  J 

boa  en  trees  that  told  of  the  little  settle.nent  once  n,al    1 
Its  Jiome  there.  '^ 

"Here  comes  uncle."  exclahned  Floss ;  " I'm  so  glad  '  " 

The  ,.est  of  the  n,en  took  shelter  as  best  they  .ni^ht 

«..cler  canvas  and  in  the  lee  of  rocks  and  ruined  tails':    ' 

^^el I  wel.    sard  Lieutenant  Dick,  whose  spirits  had 

nsen  under  the  excite.nent  of  the  stor.n  and  the  work  of 

S;."^, ,  :'   ''«^^'="   "'"'"■  '=°™''   "  tl.is    isn't   so   bad. 

He  stooped,  slightly,  under  the  cross-bar  where  a  man- 
te!  l^d  once  been,  and  stood  upright  with  the  others 
•  Oh.  Riehard,  do  you  suppose  we  .shall  ever  find  them  '  " 
■  -Fu,d  the,,,  ?-of  course  we  shall !     They  can't  ha^-e 
gone    a,.,  and  „,y  n,en  say  the  faeks  he,-eabouts  we,-e    ' 
mndc  by  Ind.ans.  who  v.e,.  p.-obably  canoeing  down  the 
Yukon      There  are  half  a  dozen  villages  on  the  banks, 
and  notliing  conld  be  more  natural." 


1.1 


UNJ^Kli   THE  EAliTII. 


171 


le 


'•But  they  may  have  taken  my  bqys  ])risoners  —  my 
husband  —  "  Mrs.  Dutton  covered  her  face  and  sobbed. 

'•  Nonsense,  Ella  !  "  said  Dick,  with  energy.  '•  I  tell  you 
the  other  party  nmst  liave  gone  down  at  least  two  days 
ahead  of  the  rest.     There  isn't  a  hoot  track  among  'em." 

'•  But  how  can  we  ever  find  them  ?  " 

'Oil;  they'll  go  down-stream  a  piece,  and  then  camp. 
They  can't  go  beyond  Fort  Yukon,  any  way,  for  that's  the 
l)oint  where  we  leave  the  river,  and  John  hasn't  a  ghost 
of  an  idea  where  to  go  to  strike  the  mountain." 

'"  We'll  find  them,  we'll  find  them  I "  cried  Floss,  who 
was  too  young  to  remain  sad  o^■er  the  future  for  more 
than  five  minutes  at  a  time.  "What  a  funny  old  place 
this  is !  "  she  added,  poking  over  a  heap  of  dry  grass  and 
leaves  with  her  foot.     ''  Why,  something  wiggled  !  " 

She  stooped  and  began  to  brush  away  the  leaves. 
*' Look,  look,  mamma  !  "  she  cried,  excitedly.  '-An  iron 
ring,  just  like  the  Arabian  Nights  !  " 

The  other  members  of  the  group  now  became  interested, 
and  the  lieutenant  got  down  on  his  hands  and  knees  to 
help  pull  aside  the  rubbish. 

A  few  minutes'  hard  work  cleared  the  surface  of  a 
broad,  flat  rock,  reaching  from  the  side  of  the  fireplace 
out  some  three  feet  toward  the  centre.  It  was  blackened 
by  the  mass  of  cinders  and  charred  wood  and  bricks  that 
had  long  lain  upon  it,  but  the  outline  could  l)e  clearly 
made  out.  In  the  centre  was  an  iron  ring,  about  four 
inches  in  diameter,  let  into  a  circular  groove  neatly  hewn 


172 


niE  BED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


i     • 


out  of  the  face  of  the  slab  for  its  reception  and  partial 
concealment.  Tiie  ring  was  covered  and  eaten  into  by  a 
thick  layer  of  rust,  and  when  Mr.  Button  piied  it  out  of 
its  socket,  and  endeavored  to  raise  the  slab,  the  iron, 
nearly  cut  through  by  the  rust,  broke  witli  such  sudden- 
ness that  the  lieutenant  sat  down  hard,  at  the  feet  of  the 
startled  Chloe,  whose  eyes  had  been  growing  rounder  at 
every  new  development. 

"  Laws,  massa !  "  she  cried,  her  teeth  chattering  with 
dread  and  the  chill  dampness  of  the  place.  •■  d-don't  go  no 
furder.  Dat's  an  orful  place,  dar.  Nobody  knows  what's 
in  under  dat  stone.  'Pears  like  sumfin  '11  jump  up  at  us, 
jes'  so  soon  as  dat  stone  comes  otf." 

Dick  added  to  the  black  woman's  dismay  by  stamping 
on  the  slab,  which  o;ave  out  a  dismallv  hollow  sound. 

••  Don't  you  be  afraid,  auntie,"  said  he,  good-naturedly, 
seeinu:  that  she  was  reallv  terrified  by  the  combination  of 
the  storm,  the  strange  land,  and  the  mystery  beneath 
their  feet.  "  This  is  nothing  but  a  sort  of  private  cellar, 
1  reckon,  where  those  old  Russians  kept  their  wines  and 
other  property  they  didn't  care  to  have  their  coppery 
neighbors  ";et  hold  of." 

•'  And  when  the  door  was  covered  with  ashes,"  added 
Flossie,  who  felt  the  importance  of  a  first  discoverer,  '•  of 
course  no  one  could  ever  find  it." 

There  was  a  delightful  sort  of  Captain  Kidd  flavor  about 
the  whole  thing,  however,  which  urged  them  all  to  make 
further  investigations.     At  the  same  time,  each  one  felt 


UNDER   TIIK   EMIT  11. 


173 


an  unaccountable  sense  of  aversion  and  distrust  regarding 
that  cellar.  Looking  around  the  circle,  they  read  the 
same  expression  in  one  anotlier's  face. 

"  Nonsense  !  "  exclaimed  Dick,  answering  the  look. 
"  What  are  we  afraid  of  ?  Chloe's  talk  has  made  geese 
of  us.     It  is  dark,  though  I  " 

The  clouds  grew  blacker,  and  the  wind  steadily  rose  in 
fury,  until  it  fairly  lashed  the  little  peninsula  and  the 
frothing  waters  of  the  river  beyond.  The  lieutenant 
drew  a  small  pocket-lantern  from  his  coat,  unfolded  it, 
and  lighted  the  candle.  Contrary  to  his  expectations, 
the  yellow  light,  mingling  with  the  cold  gray  gloom  from 
outside,  but  increased  the  cenness  of  the  situation  and 
the  unpleasant  sensations  they  had  all  felt. 

As  he  hesitated  what  to  do  next,  he  struck  his  heel 
sharply  again  on  the  groove  in  the  slab,  where  the  ring 
had  been.  The  blow  broke  the  stone  squarely  in  the  cen- 
tre, and  the  two  pieces  fell  in  with  a  crash.  The  stone 
itself  was  not  over  an  inch  thick,  and  was  merely  a  fire- 
proof protection  for  an  under-layer  of  planking,  now 
worm-eaten  and  decayed. 

A  peculiar  nnisty  scent  arose  from  the  hole  as  they 
bent  over  it.  Dick  remembered  having  somewhere  cauglit 
the  same  odor  :  at  first  he  could  not  recall  it ;  then  he 
remembered  that  it  was  at  the  reopening  of  a  long  dis- 
used tomb,  which  he  had  watched  with  boyish  curiosity 
and  awe  twenty-five  years  before.  The  recollection  was 
not  a  pleasant  one,  and  for  a  moment  the  United  States 


174 


THE  RED  MOUNTALX   OF  ALASh'A. 


officer  heartily  wisliod  that  his  niece  had  found  other 
employment  for  her  little  fe^et  than  uncovering  this  un- 
canny aperture  gaping  below. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  at  length,  trying  to  throw  oft'  his  ner- 
vousness, which  lie  felt  to  be  unmanly,  '•  shall  we  enter?" 

The  uncerta;in  flame  of  the  candle  threw  a  fitful  light 
into  the  opening,  and  at  first  disclosed  nothing.  When 
Dick  kneeled  by  the  side  of  the  hole,  and  held  his  little 
lantern  as  far  down  into  it  as  possil)le.  there  could  only 
be  made  out  a  small,  square  apartment,  like  a  dungeon, 
rudely  walled  in  with  uncut  rocks,  and  ceiled  with  tim- 
ber. The  two  halves  of  the  stone  slab  lay  where  they 
had  fallen,  just  beneath  the  opening,  on  the  earthen 
floor. 

"  It's  quite  empty  !  "  announced  the  lieutenant,  in  a  tone 
of  relief.     *"  We  had  all  our  trouble  for  nothing." 

"  But,  uncle,"  interposed  Florence,  who  had  been 
screening  her  eyes  from  the  flame  of  the  lantern,  '^  what 
do  you  call  that  dark  place  over  in  that  corner  ?  Isn't 
that  another  opening  in  the  wall  ?  A  doorway  to  some 
place  beyond  ?  " 

Dick  .scrutinized  the  spot,  and  wished  the  young  lady 
with  sunny  hair  was  in  —  Sheldon. 

Beyond  a  doubt,  it  ivas  a  door.  Beyond  a  doubt,  Dick 
Dutton  was  called  upon,  under  the  circumstances,  to  pass 
through  it,  and  explore  the  shadowy  vault  beyond. 

He  tried  to  temporize. 

"  Why  not  wait  till  to-morrow  ?  "  he  suggested,  weakly. 


I 


UNDER    THE   EAliTII. 


175 


'"  If  you  don't  go,  Dick,  I  shall.  I  believe  you're 
afraid  ! " 

It  was  Ivlr8.  Dutton  who  spoke,  with  a  nervous  l;iugh, 
that  betrayed  her  own  state  of  mind. 

The  lieutenant  prepared  to  descend.  He  felt  they 
would  all  regret  ^he  discovery  they  were  to  make.  He 
knew  they  would  make  it,  nevertheless,  before  leaving  tlie 
ruins  of  ill-fated  Selkirk. 

"  If  I  must  —  !  "  he  said,  with  a  resigned  air. 

Near  the  broken  stoni'  lay  some  fragments  of  wood. 
These,  it  appeared,  were  all  that  was  left  of  a  step-ladder 
that  had  once  formed  a  means  of  entrance  to  and  tigress 
from  the  dungeon. 

"  Hold  the  lantern,  Flossie,"  said  he,  as  he  seized  the 
framework  of  the  pit  firmly,  and  let  himself  down. 

The  dungeon,  or  cellar,  was  about  eight  feet  deep.  He 
dropped  the  last  two  feet. 

"  Wait,"  called  Floss,  peering  down  into  the  darkness  ; 
"  I  nmst  come,  too!  " 

Richard  groaned  in  his  sleeve,  but  obediently  readied 
up  and  lifted  the  girl  down,  lantern  and  all.  It  was  ex- 
ceedingly damp  in  the  pit,  and  the  close  air  gave  them  a 
choking  sensation. 

'•  For  Heaven's  sake,  my  girl,  let's  hurry ! "  said  the 
officer,  coughing  violently  ;  "  I  want  to  get  out  of  this." 

''  Let  me  have  the  lantern,"  commanded  his  niece. 
"  There  !  I'm  going  ahead  the  rest  of  the  way." 

She  accordingly  advanced  cautiously  to  the  opening  in 


t 


'I 


nr, 


THE   liKl)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


tilt'  Willi,  which  seemed  to  indicate  further  opportunities 
for  exploration. 

Her  uncle  humored  her  ambition  for  taking  the  lead, 
but  })laced  himself  almost  directly  at  her  side. 

On  passing  the  doorway,  which  was  so  narrow  that 
they  could  hardly  squeeze  through,  they  found  themselves 
in  a  sort  of  gallery,  about  five  feet  high  and  two  feet  wide. 
Here  they  had  to  walk  in  single  file,  Florence  preceding 
her  companion.  The  noise  of  the  storm  overhead  had 
now  become  only  a  faint,  dull  roar,  like  surf  at  a  great 
distance. 

Dick  knocked  his  head  several  times  against  projecting 
roots  or  knots  in  the  rough  planks  that  only  partially 
lined  the  passage. 

Stooping,  and  moving  very  slowly,  they  crept  along, 
following  the  gallery,  w4iich  had  several  sharp  turns,  for 
fully  two  hundred  feet.  The  air  now  became  decidedly 
more  foul,  and  tlie  lieutenant  earnestly  begged  the  girl  to 
go  back  and  wait  for  him.  But  she  was  a  Button,  and 
was  determined  to  see  the  adventure  through  to  the  end. 

The  passage  suddenly  contracted  still  further,  becoming 
so  low  that  it  was  with  difficulty  they  walked  at  all. 
They  could  not  speak  without  violently  interrupting 
themselves  by  spasmodic  coughing. 

"Only  a  few  steps  more,"  gasped  Floss.  "Then,  if  we 
don't  find  anything,  I'll  turn  back." 

Even  the  light  seemed  to  grow  dim,  as  they  advanced. 

Suddenly  the   gallery  widened.     They  saw  that  they 


1 


UNDER   THE   EAR!  a. 


1 


I  t 


were  in  another  apartment,  or  cell,  about  the  size  of  tlic 
first.  As  Florence  entered  this  room,  and  held  her  lantern 
aloft,  she  uttered  a  shrill  cry  of  terror,  and,  turning,  hid 
her  face  in  her  uncle's  arms. 

It  was  no  ordinary  sight  that  shook  the  girl's  nerves. 

The  lieutenant  felt  a  cold  horror  sweep  over  him  as  he 
followed  her  glance  to  the  furthest  corner  of  the  room. 

There  were  two  pieces  of  furniture  —  a  rough  deal  table, 
and  a  chair.  In  the  cliair,  with  head  sui)ported  by  its 
hand,  sat  a  skeleton,  with  its  grinning  jaws  turned  directly 
toward  the  intruders. 

The  figure  leaned  against  the  wall,  as  well  as  the  back 
of  the  chair,  and  was  thus  kept  in  the  position  in  which 
death  had  come  to  the  unhappy  occupant  of  the  dungeon. 
Scattered  over  the  table  were  two  or  three  bits  of  paper, 
yellow  and  mouldy. 

A  few  rags* still  hung  about  the  bones  of  the  hideous 
figure,  adding  to  its  fearful  aspect. 

There  were  no  indications  of  what  had  taken  place 
previous  to  the  tragedy,  slow  or  swift,  which  had  been 
enacted  in  that  subterranean  chamber  of  horrors,  save  a 
shallow  excavation  in  the  floor,  near  the  opposite  wall. 
.  A  pickaxe  lay  on  the  heap  of  earth  beside  it.  The  work 
of  digging  seemed  to  have  been  abandoned  on  account  of 
a  ledge  which  was  just  below  the  surface  of  the  floor,  and 
which,  while  a  deep  crack  had  been  made  in  it,  or  uncov- 
ered, by  the  pick,  had  discouraged  the  poor  creature  whose 
repulsive  likeness  alone  inhabited  the  dreary  place. 


rr^ 


178 


TUK  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


•  I 
I 


I 


i  t 


i  f 


.1  f 


As  soon  as  he  could  steady  liis  nerves,  and  could  leave 
the  shuddering  girl  hy  herself,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
gallery,  the  lieutenant  proceeded  to  investigate. 

Repressing  his  strong  feeling  of  revulsion,  he  move'd 
across  the  room,  and  satisfied  himself  that  this  was  really 
the  end  of  the  passage.  The  sound  of  the  tempest  was 
now  more  indistinct  than  ever,  by  which  he  gathered  that 
they  were  farther  below  the  surface  than  at  any  previous 
point  in  their  walk. 

The  room  had  evidently  not  been  meant  for  permanent 
habitation.  There  was  no  apparent  means  for  ventilation, 
and  no  arrangement  for  eitlier  cooking  or  sleeping. 
Rather,  it  might  be  a  place  of  refuge  in  times  of  sudden 
attack  ;  of  concealment  of  valuable  property,  were  the 
safety  of  the  fort  threatened.  Could  that  l)e  the  key  to 
the  excavation  ?  Was  the  man  engaged  in  burving  a 
hoard  of  treasure  ?  But,  if  so,  why  did  he  stop,  and  die  ? 
It  could  not  have  been  a  violent  death,  for  that  easy  sit- 
ting position  would  not  have  been  taken. 

All  these  thoughts  flashed  through  the  lieutenant's 
mind  as  he  gathered  up  the  fragments  of  mouldy  paper, 
and  tried  to  decipher  them  by  the  dim  light  of  the  pocket- 
lantern.  Nothing,  however,  could  be  made  out,  and  he 
stuffed  the  papers  into  his  pocket  for  future  inspection. 

There  was  one  piece  of  paper,  yellow  and  tattered, 
toward  which  Richard  felt  an  overwhelming  repugnance; 
yet  that  might  explain  the  man's  errand  in  that  dismal 
burrow,  and    might    disclose   information  that  would  be 


A  ■ 

*                                                   8         '                    '          ' 
■J 

'i 

^-. — ^-  ■*«i 

i^\  i 

mgm^& 

'^^^     ■^..  /    ,    . 

i "    ^ 

if. 

ii»i.        V.  «^:,A'.,  ^   -■   '.jil  i^'            ^ 

^                          ' 

IT  WAS   \(»  (H;i»i\Ai;v  sKiiri'. 


rxDEii  Tin:  K.MiTii. 


isi 


highly  important  to  the  Diitton  cxju'dition,  or  oven  to  i\\v 
govennneiit. 

Why  (lid  the  brave  lientenant  hesitate  to  touch  this 
doeuiiient  ?  Becanse  it  was  held  in  its  place  on  the  tabic 
by  a  forefinger  that  elo(|nently  lorbade  meddling.  Yet  it 
must  be  taken.     It  was  taken. 

Richard  gave  a  sudden  start  as  he  held  it  up  to  the 
light.  The  paper  showed  no  handwriting,  but  faint  tra- 
cings of  curved  lines,  and  odd  hgures  like  Egyptian  hiero- 
glyphics. At  the  lower  left-hand  rornei"  was  a  character 
like  a  triangle  ;  then  a  wavy  line  cros.sed  by  thn-e  vertical 
strokes.  Just  above  these  were  three  inverted  K's,  and 
further  over  to  the  right  were  three  objects  looking  some- 
thing^ like  suuar  loaves.  Various  other  dots  an<l  markins's 
were  to  be  .^een,  the  mo>t  ominous  of  which  was  a  [)lainly 
defnied  deaths-head  in  the  ui>[)er  light-haud  corner. 

I  said  that  Richard  started  the  moment  his  eve  fell  on 
the  tracing.  It  looked  strangely  familiar  to  him.  Tlicn 
he  remembered. 

*•  I'ce.M'hci's  ma))  I  "he  exclaimed,  alond.  '"The  very 
thing,  line  lor  line  I     dust  look  lieic.  Florence!" 

Without  not icini!;  that  she  uave  him  no  rei)lv.  he  con- 
tinned  his  search  about  tlie  room,  preparatory  to  1(m\  iii_ 
it.  He  felt  sui'e  that  this  placi'  was  in  some  way  con- 
nected with  the  objcrt  of  their  search. 

Turnin!"-  from  tin-  table,  his  lo(»t  struck  lieavih"  au^ainst 
a  box  which  he  bad   not    beforr   noticed.      It  was  a  com- 


ii't.j 


nion  uroccrv    Itox.    and   thr  cover   was  nailed   down.      .\ 


(■ 


lH-2 


TiiK  i:i:i>  MoiMAiy  of  Alaska. 


>    1 

1 

i 


!  I 


'f! 


Iilow  with  liis  boot  het'l  broko  the  lialf-fU-ciiyL'd  l)oar(,l^, 
and  (lisclosotl  the  conleiil.s.  They  consisted  wholly  of 
masses  ol'  i(jek.  which  sparkled  in  the  light  of  the  candle. 
A  second  glance  showed  their  color  to  Ijc  a  deei),  glowing 
crimson.  Richard  took  one  in  his  hand,  and  held  it 
nearer  the  lantern.  Without  a  shadow  of  doiiht.  it  was  a 
magnificent  specimen  of  cinnabar  in  the  ore.  The  box 
wa.s  full  of  similar  samples. 

liichard  tugued  the  box  out  into  the  centre  of  the 
room,  resolving  either  to  take  it  out  himself  or  send  Pee.s- 
chce  for  it  on  his  retnrn  to  daylight. 

All  this  takes  a  long  time  to  tell,  a  shorter  time  for 
vou  to  read.  The  actual  occurrences  were  still  more 
brief,  liichard  had  not  been  in  the  dungeon  two  minutes 
when  he  stooped  down  for  a  final  look  at  tlie  ragged 
excavation  in  the  iloor.  and  the  fractured  ledge. 

As  he  did  so,  his  cough,  which  had  troubled  him  more 
or  less  ever  since  he  had  entered  the  narrow  passauewav, 
returne(l  with  redoubled  violence.  His  brows  throbbed 
with  a  sudden  pain.  lie  turned  sick  and  faint.  The  cell 
seemed  to  grow  dark.  Was  be  losing  his  .senses  in  this 
fearful  place  V —  oi'  was  it  —  look  —  l/ir  laiift  rii  !  the  lun- 
krn  ! 

Kven  while  the  man  rose  dizzily  to  his  feet,  and  tried 
to  collect  his  dazed  senses,  the  tlame  of  the  candle  —  not 
yet  half  burned  out  —  dwindled,  dwindled,  before  };is 
very  eyes. 

And  now  wbat  is  liiebard  <loing?     Is  he  going  crazy? 


UXDEli    THE   KAIiTII. 


188 


He  snatches  the  little  lantern  up  from  the  mound  of  loose 
earth  on  which  he  has  placed  it,  tears  it  open,  and 
dashes  out  the  feeble  remnant  of  flame,  leaving  the  place 
in  total  darkness. 

Then  he  staggers  over  to  the  entrance  of  the  passage- 
way, where  he  last  saw  Florence,  gasping:  — 

"  Flossie  !  Flossie  !  Hurry  !  We  are  lost  if  we  wait ! 
Tlie  Jive-damp  is  on  us  !  " 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A    MYSTERY    EXPLAINED. 

IT  cannot  be  denied  that  we  deserted  our  gallant 
officer  in  a  most  uncomfortable  situation  — 
"'under  fire,"  we  might  almost  say 


Had  Lieutenant  Button  been  obliged  to  spend  many 
momeuts  n\  the  old  cellar-way  under  Fort  Selkirk,  witli 
his  sunny-tempered  but  headstrong  little  niece,  it  is  quite 
certani  tliat  neither  of  the  two  would  ever  have  lived  to 
read  this  account  of  their  subterranean  explorations. 

As  Richard  stjirted  toward  the  door,  he  thrust  his  foot, 
in  the  darkness,  against  the  table.  There  was  a  crash  as 
the  old  piece  of  furniture  went  over,  followed  by  a  rat- 
tling sound,  like  an  armful  of  dry  sticks  falling  on  the 
hard  lloor.  ITnder  other  circumstances,  the  thought  of 
what  produced  this  singular  noise  would  have  unnerved 
him  ;  but  the  man's  mind  was  now  wholly  l)ent  on  rescu- 
ing; the  acirl,  whose  continued  silence  filled  him  with  a 
new  fear. 

He  groped  his  way  toward  the  exit,  calling  again  :  - 
'"  Flossie  I  Flossie  1  my  dear  child  !  Where  are  you 
No  sound.     Only  the  consciousness  of  that  hideous  heap 

ls4 


0  " 


A   MYSTERY  EXPLAINED. 


185 


on  the  floor,  over  which  he  might  stumble  at  any  mo- 
ment ;  and  the  stifling  carbonic-acid  gas,  or  "  fire-damp,'' 
which  seemed  fairly  to  have  its  clammy  hands  on  his 
throat. 

After  what  seemed  hours,  he  felt,  with  the  joy  of 
a  drowning  man  clutching  a  floating  timber,  the  posts 
that  supported  the  doorway  oi)ening  into  the  long 
gallery. 

Moving  cautiously  along,  he  had  not  advanced  a  yard 
in  the  new  direction  before  he  nearlv  stumbled  over  an 
obstruction  in  his  path.  Stooping,  he  felt  the  unconscious 
form  of  Flossie,  who  had  been  unable  to  endure  the  poi- 


sonous gas. 


Richard  put  all  his  waning  strength  into  a  great  effort, 
and  lifted  the  girl  in  his  arms.     As  he  stau-o-ered  con- 

o  or? 

fusedly  along  the  passageway,  bruising  himself  at 
nearly  every  step,  realizing  only  that  two  lives  hung 
on  his  powers  of  endurance,  he  tried  to  call  for  help,  but 
his  throat  would  not  respond. 

And  now,  in  spite  of  every  effort,  he  felt  his  senses 
leaving  him,  and  I  lossie  slipping  down  from  his  grasp. 

••  Helj)  I  help  !  ''  he  gasped,  in  a  husky  whisper. 

Hark  I  Was  that  a  sound  of  footsteps  in  the  passage  ? 
A  rustliiii:  of  woman's  clothing?  In  another  niuiiient 
Flossie  was  snatched  from  the  lieutenant's  failing  grasp, 
and  a  torrent  of  soft,  almost  incoherent  ejaculations  burst 
out  in  the  darkness. 

"  Dar,    dar,    my    po'    little    Iambi     Diet    ye  git  tired. 


TT 


III 


186 


THE  liED   MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


h     } 


honoy  ?  Was  y'  almos'  done  suffiiiiicated  ?  Po'  chile  ! 
Conic  T'l  ycr  ole  iiiammy.  bress  yer  lieart  I     Dar  !  dar  I  " 

The  sounds  grew  fainter  as  tlie  rescuing  Chloe  with- 
di-ew,  1  tea  ring  Flossie,  and  evidently  forgetting  all  about 
her  late  comrade. 

Relieved  of  his  burden,  the  man  felt  new  strength  come 
to  him.  The  gas  was  not  nearly  as  strong  now,  and  he 
could  catch  whiffs  of  fresh  air  from  the  opening  ahead. 

And  now  the  Fox  himself,  the  faithful  Peeschee,  came 
hurrying  into  the  passageway,  and.  with  his  arm  around 
his  master,  managed  to  assist  him  out  to  daylight  and 
life. 

The  Chilkats  had  already  drawn  Chloe  and  Floss  out 
of  the  pit,  and  Richard  was  soon  pulled  up  after  them. 
Not  ten  seconds  after  he  was  extricated  there  was  a  dull, 
cra>lung  sound  beneath  them  ;  the  earth  settled  slightly, 
in  a  line  toward  the  river,  and  a  cloud  of  dust  arose  from 
thf  oi»ening  in  the  fireplace. 

Tlu'u  they  knew  what  had  happened.  The  old  timbers, 
long  ago  worm-eaten  and  crumbling,  had  at  some  point 
been  jam.'d  or  i>uslied  down  by  the  passing  footsteps.  The 
earth  liad  fallen  ;  and  the  whole,  following  like  a  river 
behind  a  broken  dam,  had  caved  in,  completely  filling  and 
destroying  tlic  passage. 

The  Indians  were  employed  for  half  an  hour,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  safety  for  futuin;  visitors,  in  filling  the  entrance  pit 
with  bricks,  stones,  moss,  and  clods  of  earth  —  the  whole 
smoothed    over  and    covered   with    ashes,   until    not    the 


.1    MYSTKllV   EXI'LAISKI). 


187 


slightest  trace  reiiiaiiied  of  the  tra})  that   had  so  nearly 
proved  fatal  to  the  two  adventurers. 

Meantime  the  latter  came  fairly  to  their  senses,  and 
soon  were  as  well  as  ever,  saving  a  pair  of  headaches  and 
a  slight  ijausea,  accompanied  hy  a  ringing  in  the  ears. 

The  storm  was  still  violent,  l)Ut  evidently  ahating  its 
force. 

"  It's  gomg  to  clear  off  soon,"  said  Richard,  looking  up 
at  the  sky  with  a  knowing  air,  '•  but  we  can't  go  any 
further  to-night.,  it's  so  late.  We  must  have  used  up  three 
or  four  hours  in  this  miserable  business." 

'•  Dick,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dutton,  quietly,  '•  how  l(Dng  do 
you  suppose  you  and  Floss  were  underground,  from  the 
time  you  jumped  in  to  the  moment  when  you  were  drawn 
out  through  that  trap-door?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,  Ella,"  looking  rather  surprised 
at  her  queer  tone.  '•  I  haven't  looked  at  my  watch.  Two 
hours,  I  should  think,  at  the  very  least.     Perhaps  more." 

"  I  did  look  at  my  watch,"  said  Mrs.  Dutton,  "  for  T 
was  anxious  about  you  both.  You  were  out  of  my  sight 
just  six  minutes  and  a  half  !  " 

It  was  hard  to  ))elieve,  but  the  evidence  w^as  conclusive. 
It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  a  review  of  a  whole  life  ma\' 
pass  through  a  man's  mind  in  a  hardly  appreciable  instant 
of  time.     So  it  had  been  in  this  case. 

They  had  arrived  at  the  camp  at  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  It  was  now  a  quarter  before  four,  the 
surplus  time  havin^^  been  occupied  in  securing  the  raft 


18H 


THE  liEJJ  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


.     '1 

I   I  I 

Si  I 


III 


n< 


ami  goods  against  injury,  and  in  filling  up  the  hole  under 
their  feet. 

By  half  past  four  the  rain  had  ceased,  the  sun  blazed 
out  with  tropical  fervor,  and  a  glowing  rainbow  spanned 
the  sky. 

"'  En  route  ! "  called  the  lieutenant,  cheerily,  bustling 
about  among  the  Indians,  and  urging  them  to  the  work 
of  resuming  the  voyage  down-stream.  Mrs.  Dutton  had 
expressed  her  earnest  wish  to  leave  the  fort,  with  its 
unpleasant  associations,  and  camp  further  down  on  the 
banks  Jie  Yukon.  Besides,  she  said,  they  would  be 
lessening  the  distance  between  the  two  parties,  and  every 
mile  of  hill  and  dale  made  the  separation  harder  to  bear. 

By  five  o'clock,  the  raft,  with  all  the  company  on  board, 
swung  off  into  mid-stream,  and  floated  slowly  downward, 
past  the  mouth  of  the  Pelly,  down  which  the  husl)and  and 
sons  were  really  pursuing  their  toilsome  journey.  Bub 
the  dark  hills  gave  no  hint  of  the  secret  they  held,  and 
the  Pelly,  the  Upper  Yukon,  and  old  Fort  Selkirk  were 
soon  out  of  sight. 

For  two  days  they  rafted  down-stream.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  second  day  they  passed  two  Takheesh  Indians 
paddling  up-stream.  The  Indians  were  friendly,  and,  on 
being  questioned  by  the  Chilkats,  informed  them  that  no 
party  of  whites  had  descended  the  river  within  the  last 
fortnischt. 


H 


ere 


was 
agai 


poser. "  Poor  Mrs.  Dutton  was  almost  d 


is- 


■■■] 


couraged   again,  and  even  the  sturdy  lieutenant  hardly 


A   MYSTEIiV  KXPLAISKI). 


189 


know  liow  to  act.  As  they  positively  could  not.  however, 
work  the  raft  up-stream,  they  determined  to  <::o  into  com- 
fortable quarters,  and  wait  several  days  —  a  week.  ;it 
least  —  for  the  arrival  of  their  friends,  at  the  first  spot, 
which  should  show  favorable  indications  as  a  camping- 
ground. 

The  north  bank  of  the  river,  for  many  miles  below  Fort 
Selkirk,  had  presented  much  the  same  appearance  as  the 
lower  Hudson,  a  steep,  columnar  blulf  playing  tlu'  i)ait  of 
the  Palisades.  The  south  shore  was  less  bold,  and  invited 
the  voyagers  to  rest  there  during  their  enforced  delay. 
A  site  for  the  camp  was  accordingly  selected  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Yuk-ko-kon  Heena,  or  White  River,  who.se 
swift,  turbid  waters  poured  down  like  a  broad  stream  of 
milk  into  the  deeper  Yukon. 

The  banks  here  were  frozen  some  six  or  eight  feet  deep  : 
but  their  mos.sy  surface  was  bright  green,  and  at  noon 
each  day  the  sun  was  intensely  hot. 

Here  the  expedition  remained  for  four  days,  undis- 
turbed save  by  one  or  two  thunder-storms  and  mvriads  of 
gnats  and  mosquitoes.  Lieutenant  Schwatka.  who  passed 
through  the  same  region  a  dozen  years  later,  declari's 
that,  when  a  netting  is  put  up  in  these  regions,  two  mos- 
quitoes will  hold  the  wings  of  a  third  flat  to  his  sides,  and 
push  him  through  the  meshes ! 

While  the  raft  was  quietly  resting  at  its  moorings, 
during  these  few  days,  Richard  had  ample  opportunit}'  to 
examine  the  writings  found  under  the  fort.     Of  most  of 


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190 


TUE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Ri 


the  papers  he  could  make  nothing  ;  for  not  only  was  the 
writing  blurred  and  almost  indecipherable  by  reason  of 
age,  but  the  characters  were  of  a  sort  which  the  honest 
young  officer  had  never  set  eyes  on  before. 

"  They're  not  Russian,"  said  he,  throwing  down  the 
papers  in  despair  before  Mrs.  Dutton  and  her  daughter ; 
"  I'm  sure  of  that.  What  those  outlandish-looking  square 
things  mean,  with  their  dots  and  crosses,  is  more  than  I 
can  tell." 

Mrs.  Dutton  pored  over  them  in  vain,  and  shook  her 
head. 

"Let  me  see,  mamma,"  said  Florence,  stretching:  out 
her  hand  languidly.  She  had  not  been  wholly  herself 
since  her  adventure  that  so  nearly  proved  fatal,  and  her 
mother  watched  her  pale  face  anxiously  as  she  handed 
her  the  mysterious  manuscripts. 

'•  Why,"  she  exclaimed,  "  these  are  not  paper  at  all ! 
They're  parchment,  and  I  think  —  yes,  I'm  sure,  the 
writing  is  in  Hebrew." 

'•  Why,  how  do  you  know  that.  Floss  ? "  asked  the 
lieutenant,  scrutinizing  each  fragment  w^th  a  new  in- 
terest. 

''  Teacher  once  showed  us  the  '  Lord's  Praver  '  in  two 
or  three  languages.  She  copied  them  on  the  blackboard 
out  of  a  book,  and  one  of  them  was  Hebrew.  It  looked 
almost  exactly  like  this." 

As  none  of  the  party  knew  a  word  of  the  language,  the 
information  didn't  avail  them  much;  although,  as  Dick 


A   MYSTERY  EXPLAINED. 


191 


gravely  remarked,  it  was  "  a  great  moral  consolation  to 
know  what  language  they  w^ere  written  in." 

•'T  have  it !  "  he  added,  suddenly.  "Let's  call  Pees- 
chee  into  the  council.  That  fellow  knows  a  good  deal 
more  than  he's  told  yet,  I'll  warrant.  T  want  to  know 
how  he  got  hold  of  a  duplicate  of  the  map  our  —  hem  I  — 
quiet  friend  down  below  was  guarding  so  carefully." 

He  pulled  a  crumpled  bit  of  parchment  out  of  his 
pocket  as  he  spoke. 

The  Indian  was  summoned;  his  stolid  face  changed 
when  he  saw  the  map,  and  his  teeth  actually  chattered 
with  fear. 

'•  W-where  you  git  dat  map  ? "  he  stammered,  pointing 
with  shaking  linger  to  the  stained  parchment. 

''  Never  mind  where  I  found  it,  my  fine  fellow."  said 
the  other,  sternly.  "The  question  is,  where  did  vou 
get  yours,  and  what  do  you  mean  by  telling  me  you 
made   it?" 

"I  —  I  did  make  dat,  master,"  chattered  the  Fox,  look- 
ing fearfully  over  his  shoulder.  "  You  no  tell  medicine- 
man ?  " 

"There,  there,  Peeschee,"  said  the  lieutenant,  more 
gently,  perceiving  that  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  terri- 
fying the  man,  "  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  tell  the 
whole  story.  You've  done  something  crooked,  no  doubt, 
but  I  don't  believe  you  mean  any  harm  by  us.  No."  he 
added,  seeing  the  Indian's  frightened  glance  around.  ••  you 
needn't  be  afraid  of  the  party  that  owned  that  map.     He 


■  'I 


192 


THE  RED    MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


f  I 


won't  trouble  you  Jiny  more.  He's  gone  to  the  Warm 
Countr\'  "  (an  Alaskan's  idea  of  heaven). 

The  Fox,  being  thus  reassured,  told  his  "  plain,  un- 
varnished tale  "  as  follows.  We  will  turn  it  into  English, 
rather  than  stop  to  puzzle  over  his  broken  sentences  and 
Indian  idioms. 

"It  is  true  that  I  have  seen  the  Great  Red  Mountain. 
It  lies  there,"  pointing  to  the  southwest.  "  It  is  true  that 
the  only  way  to  reach  the  mountain  alive  is  by  the  map  I 
have  made  for  you,  a  copy  of  the  one  on  the  parchment 
there.  It  is  true  that  the  piece  of  red  rock  I  showed  you 
came  from  the  mountain  ;  it  must  be  true,  for  the  medi- 
cine-man with  the  gray  beard  told  me." 

"  So  you  have  never  visited  the  mountain  yourself  ? 
You  were  lying  to  me  when  you  told  me  that  ?  " 

'•  Listen,  master !  " 

Peeschee's  gesture  with  the  outspread  palm  had  some- 
thing of  the  native  dignity  that  marks  his  red-skin 
cousins  of  the  lower  latitudes. 

"  I  have  not  visited  the  mountain  myself.  If  I  had 
told  you  that,  you  would  never  have  gone.  When  I  was 
a  very  small  pappoose,  my  father  was  packing  goods  for 
the  great  fur  company.  One  day  he  wandered  from  the 
trail.  After  a  week  of  suffering,  he  came  upon  an  Ayan 
village,  where  he  was  kindly  received.  The  medicine- 
man took  him  into  his  own  hut,  and  nursed  him.  He 
was  an  old  man,  with  a  long,  gray  beard  and  hooked  nose, 
very,  very  terrible. 


A   MYSTERY  EXPLAINED. 


193 


"  My  father  soon  heard  that  he  was  a  descendant  of 
many  generations  of  medicine-men  in  that  tribe ;  that 
lie  had  in  his  possession  many  old  pieces  of  skin,  covered 
with  strange  marks,  that  had  been  handed  down  from 
father  to  son  for  many  hundred  years.  The  whole  tribe 
believed  that  when  Alaska  was  made,  and  raised  up  out 
of  the  ocean,  the  Ayans  crossed  the  great  waters  from  the 
west,  and  took  possession  of  the  new  land." 

"  The  Lost  Tribes  of  Judaea  !  "  shouted  Richard,  almost 
upsetting  the  tent  in  his  eagerness,  as  he  sprang  up  and 
paced  to  and  fro.  "  Don't  you  remember,  Ella,  that  one 
of  the  theories  of  scholars  is  that  the  tribes  crossed 
Behring's  Straits,  and  gradually  changed  their  character 
as  they  became  more  fitted  to  the  climate,  until  they 
were  such  men  as  we  see  now  among  the  North  American 
Indians?" 

"Yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Dutton,  no  less  eagerly,  "and  I 
noticed  particularly  that  those  two  Ayans  who  camped 
with  us  the  first  night  had  a  strong  Jewish  cast  of  coun- 
tenance.    Go  on,  Peeschee!  " 

The  Fox  had  waited  quietly,  during  these  exclamations 
of  surprise,  and  now  continued. 

"  One  night  the  old  Long  Gray  Beard  fell  asleep  before 
his  kettle,  in  which  he  was  boiling  herbs.  One  of  those 
strange  pieces  of  skin  lay  near  him,  forgotten  for  the 
moment.  My  father  copied  it  exactly  on  a  strip  of  birch 
bark,  using  a  black  coal  from  the  fire.  Before  the  medi- 
cine-man   awoke,   he   had   hidden    this   copy  under   his 


!i  Ti 


194 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


i; 


blanket.  "When  Long  Board  was  awake,  my  father  asked, 
'  What  does  that  mean  ? '  He  was  studying  the  map.  '  It 
is  the  road  to  the  Red  Mountain,'  said  Long  Beard,  angrily. 
'  It  is  the  house  of  demons  and  evil  spirits,  and  no  one  can 
reach  it  alive  but  the  great  medicine-man.'  He  then 
snatched  up  the  map,  and  put  it  in  his  pocket.  The  very 
next  day.  Long  Beard  went  off  for  many  hours  in  his 
canoe.  While  he  was  gone,  my  father  found  some  red 
rocks  under  a  pile  of  blankets,  in  a  corner  of  the  hut. 
He  took  only  one,"  said  Peeschee,  drawing  himself  up 
with  pardonable  pride  at  his  father's  moral  bravery  under 
severe  temptation.  "  When  he  went  away,  two  daj's  later, 
he  showed  one  of  the  tribe  the  piece  of  rock,  and  asked 
him  what  it  was.  The  Avan  looked  frigjhtened,  and  said 
it  was  a  piece  of  the  Red  Mountain,  which  could  not  be 
visited  by  any  living  man.  He  added  that  it  was  worth 
more  than  gold,  but  that  it  would  surely  bring  death  to 
the  owner.     That  is  the  piece  of  rock  I  gave  to  you." 

"  Cheerful  prospect  for  the  present  owners  !  "  laughed 
Richard,  nervously,  trying  to  shake  off  a  presentiment  of 
coming  evil,  as  he  fingered  the  rock,<st  that  very  moment 
reposing  in  the  bottom  of  his  pocket. 

'*  When  I  was  hunting,"  continued  Peeschee,  in  conclu- 
sion, ''  I  did  see  with  my  eyes  the  Red  Mountain,  as  I  told 
you.  I  did  not  dare  to  go  there  myself,"  he  added,  hon- 
estly. "  When  you  saved  my  life,  I  thought :  I  will  tell 
him  of  the  red  rocks  which  are  better  than  gold  among 
white  men." 


# 


I  if 


1^ 

sir. 


ni 


A   MrsTEUr  EXP  LAIS  ED. 


lu- 


ll 


*'  And  your  father  ?  " 

"  He  died  many  years  ago." 

"Have   you   heard   from    the   long-bearded   medicme- 


man?" 


Peeschee  could  not  repress  another  shudder.  He  simply 
said,  ''  No." 

"  But  how  do  you  know  this  map  starts  at  Fort  Yukon, 
as  you  said  ? " 

''  Because  that,"  pointing,  "  is  what  the  Indians  make  for 
fort.  That  is  a  big  wigwam,  with  smoke  going  up.  You 
have  seen  the  big  cliinnieys  that  made  the  smoke.  The 
next  year  the  fort  was  burned." 

"  You  think,  then,  that  the  medicine-man  knew  of  the 
mountain,  through  his  old  parchments,  or  skins,  as  you 
call  them ;  and  that  he  made  this  map  himself  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  and  Peeschee  nodded  several  times  vigorously. 

"But  why  did  the  Ayans  want  to  burn  the  fort?" 

''  The  medicine-men  of  all  the  tribes  drove  them  to  do 
it.  They  told  the  Ayans  the  white  men  would  take  away 
their  trade  in  skins.  They  were  mad  because  the  white 
men  brought  good  medicines,  that  cured  sick  Indians 
better  than  their  own." 

"And  do  you  suppose  your  long-bearded  friend  ever 
visited  the  fort  before  it  was  burned  ?  " 

"  Yes.  The  tribe  lived  on  the  Ay  an  River,  just  above 
the  fort." 

"  The  Ayan  —  that's  the  river  called  Pelly  now,"  mused 
the  lieutenant.     "  I  hope  John  and  the  boys  won't  get 


!■  i 


198 


Till':  HE  I)   MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


into  any  troublo  up  there.  It's  perfectly  clear,"  he  added 
aloud.  ''  Old  Gray  ]5eard  found  out  about  that  cellar, 
which  was  probably  built  by  the  traders  to  store  their  furs 
in,  where  they  could  be  neither  stolen  nor  injured,  either 
by  Indians  or  elements.  It  probably  was  unfinished  when 
the  fort  was  built.  The  crafty  old  . medicine-man,  know- 
ing he  was  closely  watched  in  his  own  tribe,  found  out 
about  this  cellar,  got  down  into  it  some  day  when  nobod\- 
was  round,  taking  a  pickaxe  from  Russian  stores  in  the 
fort.  Then  carried  his  treiisures  with  him,  intending  to 
hide  them,  like  every  old  miser  that  ever  lived,  where 
noljody  could  find  them  but  their  owner.  While  he  was 
digging,  and  planning  future  trips  to  his  haunted  Red 
Mountain,  the  steel  point  of  the  pick  struck  open  an 
empty  pocket  in  the  ledge,  reaching  to  a  blast  of  that 
fearful  fire-damp.  It  only  came  out  slowly,  and  I  sup- 
pose he  didn't  know  what  was  the  matter,  but  sat  down 
at  the  table  to  take  another  look  at  his  precious  docu- 
ments.    He  never  got  up  again  from  that  chair." 

"  Do  you  suppose  those  Hebrew  writings  tell  iibout  the 
mountain  ?" 

"'  That's  more  than  I  know.  The  main  point  is  that 
the  map  is  probably  correct,  and,  if  we  have  the  pluck  to 
put  this  thing  through,  the  Buttons  are  the  wealthiest 
faniil}'  in  the  United  States  !  " 

Peeschee  now  withdrew,  but  not  till  his  master  had  given 
his  hand  a  hearty  shake  as  a  token  of  restored  confidence. 

The  Indian's  eyes  glistened,  but  he  said  nothing; 


y 


' 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


A    REUNION. 


■i 


i 


IT  was  now  nearly  a  week  beyond  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  the  rendezvous  at  Fort  Selkirk,  and 
nothing  had  been  heard  from  Mr.  Dutton. 
The  lieutenant  began  to  entertain  serious  fears  as  to  the 
safety  of  the  inland  party ;  the  more  so  when  he  heard 
Peeschee's  account  of  the  hostility  of  the  tribes  of  the 
interior  to  any  intruders  upon  their  domain. 

That  there  were  Ayan  villages  or  encampments  both 
above  and  below  them  on  the  river  they  knew.  The 
Chilkats  went  on  daily  scouting  expeditions,  and  on  sev- 
eral occasions  reported  fresh  trails  of  large  parties  of 
natives,  —  whether  peaceful  or  warlike  they  could  not 
tell. 

Richard  became  decidedly  impatient.  He  fretted  be- 
cause of  the  enforced  inaction,  the  torment  of  the  clouds 
of  mosquitoes  that  infested  the  banks  of  the  river,  the 
bands  of  Indians  hanging  about  the  camp ;  and  last,  but 
not  least,  the  state  of  Flossie's  health.  The  girl  seemed 
suffering  from  a  sort  of  malarial  attack,  for  which  the 
most  direct  cure  would   be  a  trip  into  the  mountainous 


interior. 


t99 


«!f 


200 


THE  llED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Tliere  was  oiu;  more  apprehension,  of  wliich  the  lieu- 
tenant ilid  not  speak  to  tlie  rest  of  the  party.  By  tlie 
middle  of  Si^ptember  the  warm  season  would  be  over,  and 
snow  would  fall  among  the  mountains  l)y  Oetober  first,  if 
uot  before.  If  they  sliould  be  caught  by  the  wintry 
storms,  and  snowed  in,  their  escape  alive  would  be  almost 
a  miracle.  Whatever  was  to  be  done,  then,  must  he 
accomplished  within  about  eight  weeks  at  the  latest,  as  it 
was  now  tlie  middle  of  July.  Besides,  the  last  vessels 
going  soutli  from  St.  Michael's,  at  the  stormy  mouth  of 
the  Yukon,  would  leave  before  the  end  of  September.  Cut 
off  from  this  avenue  of  exit  from  Alaska,  the  only  alter- 
native was  a  long  and  arduous  struggle  with  the  forest, 
through  an  unknown  country',  directly  south  to  William's 
Sound.  This  last  route  was,  moreover,  almost  impassable 
on  account  of  the  enormous  glaciers,  wh.oli  can  be  seen 
for  miles  at  sea,  and  which  furnish  the  northern  Pacific 
with  thousands  of  icebergs  every  summer,  advancing  down 
the  mountain-side,  as  they  do,  at  the  rate  of  forty  feet  a 
day,  or  about  twelve  times  as  fast  as  the  swiftest  pace 
attained  by  the  great  glaciers  of  Mont  Blanc,  —  the 
D>   Boi,s  and  Mer  de  Glace. 

Under  the  circumstances,  great  alacrity  was  necessary 
to  prevent  their  trip  from  being  an  utter  failure,  or  to 
escape  from  the  wilderness  with  their  lives. 

The  raft  was  now  poled  out  to  the  lower  end  of  one  of 
the  little  islands  with  which  the  river  was  dotted,  and 
the  heaviest  of  the  goods  stowed  upon  it,  so  as  to  be 


! 


A  liKryioN. 


'2()\ 


ready  for  a  start  at  half  an  hour's  notice.  Tlio  Chilkats 
had  a  rather  hatterod  and  leaky  canoe  which  tli.'y  had 
found  stranded  among  the  rank  willows  hy  the  water's 
edge,  and  in  this  shaky  little  craft  the  goods  and  passen- 
gers were  conveyed  across  the  mniow  arm  of  the  stream 
separating  the  island  from  the  south  shore. 

On  the  morning  of  the  SL.enteenth  day  of  the  month, 
the  whole  company  were  seat<^d  r)ntside  their  tents,  on 
the  high,  ahrupt  bai^.k  of  the  river;  not,  however,  over 
ten  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water. 

As  usual,  their  conversation  turned  on  the  conjectural 
whereabouts  of  their  friends,  and  the  length  of  time  which 
they  should  wait  before  giving  up  the  undertaking  and 
floating  down  the  Yukon  to  the  sea, 

Richard  declared  positively  that  he  would  not  stir  a  stop 
toward  the  mountain  until  he  had  his  brother  by  his  side. 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  Flossie,  in  her  sweet  voice,  thit 
now  had  a  little  weary  inflection,  "  that  I  see  somethino; 
on  the  river,  away  up." 

They  all  shaded  their  eyes  with  their  hands,  and  gazed 
eagerly.  The  view  from  this  point  covered  at  least  two 
miles. 

"  A  raft,  a  raft ! "  cried  Richard,  capering  about  like  a 
boy,  after  a  single  glance  at  the  approaching  object 
through  his  field-glass. 

The  color  rushed  to  Flossie's  pale  cheeks. 

"  Oh,  is  it  papa !  and  Rob  and  Hugh  and  dear  little 
Nat !     It  can't  be  !     Oh,  I  feel  better  already !  " 


i 


III 


tm 


202 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


:t    ■i]i 


Richard  instantly  discharged  his  rifle  into  the  air  as  a 
signal,  but,  before  anything  more  could  be  said,  the  Fox 
came  hurrying  up  the  river  bank. 

'•  Bad  Injuns  comin';'  he  panted.  "  Woods  all  full  both 
sid<  s  river.     Come  to  kill  white  folks.     No  stay  here !  " 

"To  the  canoe!  To  the  canoe!"  cried  Richard,  for- 
getting the  reenforcements  at  hand,  in  his  fear  of  the  new 
danger.  "  Quick  !  the  island  is  our  only  chance.  Jump 
in,  Flossie  and  Ella.     Peeschee,  paddle  for  your  life  !  " 

"  Get  into  the  willows,  girls !  "  he  shouted,  as  the 
canoe,  driven  by  Peeschee' s  powerful  strokes,  foamed 
through  the  water. 

In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  he  was  back  again, 
and  off  once  mere  with  Chloe  and  the  lieutenant. 

As  yet  not  an  Indian  liad  been  seen.  The  Chilkats 
plunged  into  the  water,  and  swam  across  to  the  island. 

The  tents  and  the  few  remaining  goods  were  hurriedly 
bundled  into  the  canoe,  and  carried  to  the  raft.  Peeschee 
pulled  the  canoe  upon  its  stout  logs,  and  dove  for  the 
willows. 

Still  no  sign  of  the  savages.  Richard  began  to  hope 
the  Fox  had  for  once  mistaken  a  passing  band  of  hunters 
for  a  war  party. 

'•  Perhaps  we  can  get  away  quietly,  and  dodge  the 
whole  crowd,"  he  said  to  Peeschee,  in  low  tones. 

Then,  after  a  careful  survey  of  both  banks,  he  called 
the  women  out  on  the  raft.  The  Chilkats  stood  ready 
with  their  poles.     Peeschee  held  the  painter  in  his  hand. 


A   REUNION. 


203 


"Cast  off  the  moment  the  otlier  raft  comes  in  sicht 
around  the  end  of  the  ishmd,"  commanded  Dick.  "  They'll 
follow  us  "  — 

His  confident  remarks  were  cut  short  by  a  loud  report 
from  the  shore,  and  a  musket  ball  imbedded  itself  in  one 
of  the  logs,  just  grazing  the  bare  leg  of  the  foremost 
Chilkat.  In  an  instant,  as  if  by  magic,  the  woods  on 
either  bank  fairly  swarmed  with  dark  forms. 

The  lieutenant,  who  had  served  through  all  the  late 
war,  tossed  his  head  up  like  a  war-horse.  Seizing  his 
Winchester,  he  sighted  carefully  on  the  nearest  of  the 
enemies,  who  was  just  preparing  to  swim  out  from  their 
late  camping-ground,  and  pulled  trigger.  The  Indian 
clapped  his  hand  to  his  left  arm,  and  howled  with  terror 
and  pain.  At  the  same  moment  Peeschee  picked  off  an 
especially  prominent  assailant  on  the  opposite  shore. 

And  now  a  splendid  volley,  from  three  pieces,  roared 
out  like  an  echo,  as  Raft  No.  2  swept  around  the  end  of 
the  island. 

"  To  the  rescue  !  "  shouted  the  boys,  waving  their  hats. 

"Hurrah!"  returned  the  lieutenant,  rai.sing  his  piece 
for  another  shot.  But  where  were  the  living  targets  that 
had  thronged  the  shores  but  a  moment  before  ? 

Gone  !  The  forest  was  apparently  as  lonely  and  quiet 
as  it  had  been  for  weeks  before.  The  cowardly  foe  had 
melted  away  into  its  depths  at  the  first  fire.  Even  tli(> 
man  hit  by  Teeschee  had  picked  liimself  up  and  limped 
off,  with  apparently  only  a  flesh-wound. 


204 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I  i  ■' 


^ 


Thankful  that  no  lives  were  lost  on  either  side,  in  the 
little  skirmish,  Richard  turned  to  greet  the  new-comers. 

Down  came  the  raft,  the  boys  clustering  eagerly  in  its 
clumsy  bows,  and  preparing  for  a  jump. 

The  two  unwieldy  crafts  bump  and  swing  round.  There 
is  a  confused  laughing  and  crying  and  kissing,  all  of 
which  the  Chilkats  look  upon  stoically,  as  they  hold  the 
second  raft  in  place  with  their  poles.  Carlo  barks  his 
loudest,  and  "wags  his  tail  all  over,"  as  Nat  expresses  it. 
Even  Chloe  and  Teddy  are  discovered  in  a  wild  embrace. 

'•  And  now,"  calls  Mr.  Button,  in  his  hearty  voice,  ''  as 
we  are  all  united,  through  the  mercy  of  Him  who  has 
cared  for  us,  —  now  we  are  ready  to  complete  our  trip  I  " 

"Onward,  then!"  cries  Uncle  Dick,  catching  the 
infection  of  enthusiasm. 

"Hurrah  for  the  Red  Mountain!"  cry  the  boys,  in 
unison,  while  Flossie  waves  her  little  hand  and  Chloe  her 
red  bandanna. 

"  Cast  off,  Peeschee,  but  keep  the  other  raft  in  tow  !  " 
orders  Mr.  Dutton,  assuming  command  of  the  expedition. 

The  timbers  tremble  under  the  powerful  thrusts  of  the 
Cliilkat  poles  and  the  impulse  of  the  river  current  as  the 
flotilla  sweeps  down-stream. 

"  Onward,  to  the  Red  Mountain  !  " 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


A   LESSON  IN   BRIDGE-MAKING. 

HITS  far  we  have  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
Dutton  party  almost  step  by  step.  But.  I  hear 
you  say,  what  has  become  of  Solomon,  the 
Yankee  hunter  and  backwoods  philosopher?  It  seems 
to  us  that  you  have  left  him  out  entirely. 

Not  so,  boy  and  girl  readers ;  Solomon  has  left  himself 
out.  During  the  adventure  at  Fort  Selkirk  he  was  recon- 
noitring the  vicinity  of  the  peninsula,  regardless  of  rain 
or  lightning.  He  accompanied  the  lieutenant's  party  as 
far  as  the  White  River  camp,  and,  learning  that  they 
had  decided  to  wait  there  several  days,  petitioned  for  a 
leave  of  absence.  Solomon,  like  most  of  his  countrymen, 
was  an  uneasy  mortal.  He  wanted  to  prospect  a  little, 
he  said,  on  his  own  account,  nearer  the  mountains.  He 
agreed  to  meet  them  at  Fort  Yukon. 

The  long-limbed  hunter  was  better  than  his  word.  He 
joined  the  united  party  at  their  first  camp  below  the 
White  River,  and  now  the  expedition  was  complete  in  its 
quota  of  members. 

The  raft  swept  bravely  down-stream  without  further 
molestation  from  the  Indians,  who  seemed  to  have  been 

205 


!  J 


iU 


■7^ 


206 


THE  BED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


V         I 


H     ill 


i 


pretty  thoroughly  frightened.  One  or  two  viHages  were 
passed,  but  the  inhabitants  were  all  so  busy  with  their 
salmon-fishery  that  they  paid  but  little  attention  to  the 
whites,  probably  thinking  them  a  party  of  fur-traders 
going  out  from  the  interior.  The  size  of  the  company  on 
the  raft  was  now  such  as  to  intimidate  any  ordinary  band 
of  natives,  no  matter  how  warlike  their  inclinations. 

On  about  tlie  fifth  day  they  knew  they  must  be  cross- 
ing the  boundary  of  Alaska  ;  in  other  words,  the  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-first  meridian  west  from  Greenwich. 
They  were  now  fairly  in  Alaskan  territory,  and  felt  that 
they  were  nearing  their  goal.  Every  night  the  larger 
raft  was  moored  to  the  lower  end  of  an  island,  with  its 
more  fragile  consort,  that  of  Mr.  Button  and  the  boys, 
close  at  hand.  The  whole  party  slept  on  board,  going 
ashore  only  to  cook,  eat,  and  hunt. 

The  broad  and  dreary  "'  Yukon  Flat  Lands "  were 
now  reached,  where  the  river  spreads  out  in  a  perfect 
network  of  shallow,  swift  streams,  cutting  off  hundreds 
of  islands,  and  measuring  ten  miles  in  width  from  bank 
to  bank.  The  greatest  care  was  necessary,  lest  they 
should  take  the  wrong  channel,  and  be  obliged  to  abandon 
the  raft.  Indeed,  this  very  accident  occurred  to  the 
smaller  craft,  which  got  swept  into  a  narrow  passageway 
between  two  sandbars,  and  presently  grounded,  sticking 
so  fast  that  it  was  useless  to  try  to  get  it  off  before  the 
next  freshet.  Three  of  the  remaining  Chilkat  packers 
were  now  paid  up  and  discharged. 


A  LESSON  IN  BRIDGE-MAKING. 


207 


They  immediately  started  up-stream,  to  return  on  foot 
over  the  Chilkoot  pass.  This  left  the  following  member- 
ship on  the  large  raft :  Mr.  Button,  Mrs.  But  on.  Lieu- 
tenant Button,  Robert,  Florence,  Hugh,  Nathaniel,  Chloe, 
Teddy,  Solomon,  Joe  and  Jim;  two  Chilkats,  of  whom 
one  was  a  good  interpreter ;  Peeschee,  and  Carlo. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  seventeenth  day  from  White 
River,  the  whole  party  said  good-by  to  the  old  raft,  and 
landed  with  all  their  stores  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Yukon. 
They  were  now  exactly  on  the  Arctic  Circle,  wliich 
runs  through  Fort  Yukon  at  the  extreme  northern  point 
of  the  "  Great  Arctic  Bend  "  of  the  Yukon  River.  They 
did  not  visit  the  rough-looking  buildings  which  consti- 
tuted the  trading-post,  but  struck  directly  into  the 
interior,  heading  due  south.  As  they  were  now  to  travel 
entirely  by  Peeschee's  map,  it  will  do  no  harm  to  take  a 
fresh  look  at  it,  that  we  may  follow  them  intelligently 
during  their  wanderings  in  the  trackless  wilderness,  — 
the  chosen  home  of  the  moose,  the  caribou,  the  wolf,  of 
countless  numbers  of  bears,  and,  as  the  native  Alaskan 
devoutly  believes,  of  spirits,  who  guard  the  higher  moun- 
tain peaks  against  intrusion. 

The  map  was  arranged  with  the  north  and  south  points 
exactly  reversed  :  that  is,  the  bottom  of  the  map  is  north, 
and  the  top  south ;  of  course,  east  and  west  change  places 
accordingly.  This  must  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  in 
tracing  the  journey. 

Starting  from  the  lower  left-hand  (or  northeast)  corner, 


■  i  j 


i|; 


208 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


'  ■•'\ 


\\:     I 


at  which  point  the  rude  representation  of  a  wigwam,  with 
smoke  ascending,  stood  for  Fort  Yukon,  the  party  took 
the  east  bank  of  a  little  stream  for  a  mile  or  two,  then 
struck  off  to  the  right,  where  a  natural  ravine,  probably 

A— ii--"-) «! 


the  path  of  an  ancient  glacier,  plainly  corresponded  to 
the  route  traced  on  the  chart.  Peeschee  indicated  to  the 
lieutenant  as  well  as  he  could  that,  from  what  his  father 
had  told  him,  the  whole  distance  marked  out  was  not  far 
from  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Of  this  there  was 
one  section  where  over  a  hundred  miles  could  be  made  in 


"i 


A  LESSON  IN  BRIDGE-MAKING. 


209 


twenty-four  hours,  by  rafting   down   a   swift   and   deep 
river.     The  lieutenant  made  a  rough  guess  at  proportions, 

and  marked  a  scale  of  miles  on  the  margin  of  his  map 

as  the  reader  can  do  if  he  likes.     On  Richard's  map  he 
allowed  about  forty  miles  to  an  inch. 

The  second  day  passed  without  special  incident.  Al- 
though there  was  no  defined  trail,  the  walking  was  far 
easier  than  Mr.  Button  had  found  it  along  the  Pelly. 
Peeschee  seemed  to  choose  by  instinct  the  exact  route  by 
which  the  original  draughtsman  of  the  strange  map  had 
found  his  way  to  the  great  peak  of  cinnabar. 

In  the  forenoon  of  the  third  day,  a  new  sound  fell 
upon  their  ears.  It  was  a  dull  roar,  like  that  of  a  pass- 
ing railway  train. 

Solomon  was  the  first  to  notice  it. 

The  party  halted  and  listened. 

"  Ef  I  was  in  any  kind  of  a  decent  country,"  remarked 
the  hunter,  after  a  momentary  silence,  ''  I  should  guess 
we  were  comin'  to  a  waterfall,  an'  a  mighty  big  one  at 
that." 

Peeschee  nodded  several  times  intelligently,  and  pointed 
to  the  vertical  marks  crossing  the  trail  on  the  lieutenant's 
map.  He  then  scrambled  on  ahead  with  the  utmost 
agility,  much  pleased  at  striking  the  first  landmark  cor- 
rectly. 

The  thunder  of  the  waters  grew  deeper  as  they  ad- 
vanced, until  the  ground  itself  seemed  fairly  to  shake 
beneath  their  feet.     Soon  a  mist  was  seen  rising  above 


13 


I  ■  ii 


U  ' 


210 


THE  USD  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


ii 


fji 


the  tree-tops.  And  half  an  hour  later  the  travellers  were 
assembled  on  the  bank  of  a  swift,  deep  stream,  looking 
up  with  delight  and  awe  at  the  mighty  cataract  which 
came  tumbling  over  the  rocks  above  with  a  sheer  fall  of 
sixty  feet  or  more. 

One  feature  of  the  scene  lent  an  almost  grotesque 
aspect  to  the  falling  river :  the  water  was  nearly  wliite. 
with  its  sediment  of  glacial  mud,  so  that  it  was  as  if  the 
spectators  were  looking  upon  a  veritable  cataract  of  milk. 

••But  how  to  cross  it?"  asked  the  leader,  turning  to 
the  guides. 

The  Indians  seemed  somewhat  at  a  loss.  Solomon, 
however,  cast  a  critical  eye  up  and  down  the  stream. 

'•  I  guess  we  c'n  fix  it  somehaow,"  said  he.  "  You  jest 
sit  daown  here  'n'  rest  'n'  git  dinner.  You  come  along 
with  me,"  motioning  to  Joe,  Jim,  and  Peeschee. 

'•Can't  I  go,  too,  ^;/case  .^  "  asked  Flossie,  jumping  up, 
and  placing  herself  at  Solomon's  side. 

•'  Wal,  ef  ye  won't  git  into  no  mischief,"  said  the 
hunter,  with  a  kindly  look  down  into  the  girl's  pale  face. 
"  I  'low  I  do  like  to  hev  ye  raound." 

''  And  me  !  "  called  Nat,  eagerly,  running  after  them. 

"  And  me  !  And  me  !  "  shouted  the  boys,  joining  the 
pioneering  party. 

Solomon  laughed,  and  shrugged  his  shoulders;  but,  as 
he  made  no  serious  objections,  they  all  set  off  together, 
toward  a  point  two  or  three  hundred  yards  below  the 
camping-ground. 


1  • 


II 


,  K 


lUHLDI.Vfi    TIIK    UHlIXiK. 


(( 


1  lli 

\     If  I" 


1 1  ■ 


<\  ■'  'I  if 


ii; 


A  LESSON  IN  BIlIDGE-MAh'ING. 


213 


The  boys  followed  the  backwooflsnican  patiently,  cHmb- 
ing  over  logs  and  boulders,  sinking  knee-deep  in  moss, 
and  helping  their  sister  over  the  roughest  places.  They 
longed  to  inquire  how  Solomon  proposed  to  cross  the 
stream,  but  they  knew  better  than  to  ask  questions. 
Solomon  was  as  averse  as  a  brigadier-general  to  explain- 
ing his  plans  beforehand. 

He  paused  at  length  at  a  point  where  the  river  nar- 
rowed in  to  a  width  of  about  sixty  feet,  having  a  depth 
of  fifteen  or  twenty  in  the  centre  of  the  channel.  The 
shores  were  thickly  wooded  with  evergreens,  rising  to  a 
great  height.  Prominent  among  these  was  a  huge  old 
hemlock  close  to  the  water's  edge,  towering  to  the  height 
of  at  least  one  hundred  feet.  Solomon  measured  it  with 
his  eye,  and  gripped  his  axe  firmly.  He  had  found  what 
he  wanted. 

Clip !  clip !  went  the  keen  edge  of  the  axe  into  the 
tough  fibres  of  the  tree.  Chips  flew  in  every  direction. 
As  the  trunk  was  at  least  thirty  inches  in  diameter,  it 
was  no  light  job  to  reach  its  core,  on  the  side  toward  the 
stream.  After  ten  minut'is'  steady  work,  the  white  man 
handed  over  his  axe  to  Pe  schee  and  the  Chilkats,  all  of 
whom  were  accomplished  choppers. 

The  young  people  looked  on  as  the  pile  of  yellow,  fra- 
grant chips  grew  ;  applauding  every  particularly  large 
piece  that  was  successfully  detached.  Hugh  became  tired 
of  inaction  at  length,  and  strolled  off  with  his  fishing- 
tackle. 


;  I 


:  J; 


i' 


-I  i 


214 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


And  now,  after  tliree-quartors  of  an  hour's  pretty  con- 
tinuous chopping,  Solomon  pronounced  the  cleft  sufli- 
ciently  deep,  and,  taking  the  axe  again  into  his  own 
hands,  attacked  the  rugged  bark  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  tree. 

Presently  the  great  henilod^  began  to  shiver;  every 
blow  was  felt  throughout  its  broad  Hmbs  and  masses  of 
tiny-needled  foliage. 

*'  Look  out !  "  shouted  the  backwoodsman  to  the 
Indians,  who  were  stretched  out  on  the  moss,  danger- 
ously near. 

Slowly  at  first,  then  gathering  speed  and  momentum, 
the  enormous  tree  swept  downward  with  a  mighty  crash, 
which  for  the  time  drowned  even  the  voice  of  the 
cataract. 

"  Hurrah  ! "  cried  Robert,  leaping  upon  the  prostrate 
trunk,  and  waving  his  hat.     "  The  bridge  is  built !  " 

The  hemlock  had  fallen  just  as  Solomon  had  intended 
it  should.  Its  top  rested  well  up  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  river,  with  a  good  forty  feet  to  spare. 

He  now  proceeded  to  mount  the  trunk  himself,  and 
with  his  axe  clear  away  half  a  dozen  boughs  that  blocked 
the  way  across.  Flossie  then  walked  over  the  bridge, 
and  pronounced  it  "  perfectly  splendid." 

As  soon  as  dinner  was  over,  the  march  was  resumed 
across  the  new  hemlock  bridge.  Both  Chloe  and  Carlo 
showed  considerable  reluctance  at  going  over,  but  with 
persuasion  and  assistance  the  feat  was  accomplished. 


i . 


A   f./J.S.SO.V  TN   lUUDaK-MAKING. 


21  f) 


"Tliar!"  Scaid  Solomon,  as,  with  his  rillo  thrown  across 
liis  siionlder,  he  paused  and  ghmcud  hack  at  tlie  fallen 
hemlock,  ''  the  h'ars  ought  tew  pass  a  vote  o'  thanks  to 
me  at  their  next  taown-meetin'.  They'll  use  that  ai- 
hridge  o'  mine  for  the  next  forty  year,  and  not  pay  no 
toll,  nuther ! " 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


■if 


n 


if' 


^11 


I 


:     1 


CAPTURED  BY  BROWN  BEARS. 

|T  must  be  confessed  that  even  Mr.  Dutton  and 
the  lieutenant  looked  forward  with  considerable 
I  anxiety  to  the  next  object,  in  the  line  of  their 
route,  which  the  old  medicine-man  had  thought  worthy  of 
noting  down  on  his  map.  If  Solomon  had  any  misgivings, 
he  kept  them  to  himself. 

Peeschee  admitted  that  he  had  no  idea  of  the  meaning 
of  the  design,  though  it  seemed  intended  to  indicate  some 
animal.  From  the  fact  that  it  had  no  tail,  he  was  in- 
clined to  think  it  represented  a  bear;  but  that  was  a  mere 
guess. 

After  leaving  the  stream  which  Solomon  bridged  so 
neatly,  they  found  that  the  trail  led  up  the  course  of  one 
of  the  numerous  little  streams  that  threaded  the  hillsides. 
Mr.  Dutton  paused  from  time  to  time  to  adjust  their  route 
by  the  compass ;  but  there  was  now  not  mucli  danger  of 
missing  the  path,  which  had  clearly  been  traversed  many 
tinies  since  it  was  first  made.  The  lieutenant  was  of  the 
opinion  that  its  origin  was  due  to  bears,  whose  tracks 
were  plain  enough  beside  every  nuiddy  pool  they  passed. 
Peeschee,  on   the  other  hand,  maintained  tliat  the  trail 

2U] 


CAPTURED  BY  BROWN  BEARS. 


217 


had  been  "bushed  out"  in  the  first  place  by  man. 
Whichever  theory  was  correct,  the  path  was  a  good  one ; 
otherwise,  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  women 
to  penetrate  the  thick  underbrush  which  covered  the 
whole  district  through  which  they  were  passing. 

A  day  went  by,  and  nothing  was  seen  to  indicate  any 
especially  novel  feature.  The  direction  was  still  steadily 
southwest. 

Toward  nightfall  they  came  in  sight  of  a  range  of  low 
hills,  differing  from  any  they  had  yet  passed,  in  that  they 
were  entirely  bare  of  vegetation,  save  a  coating,  here  and 
there,  of  crinkled  black  lichens.  Their  aspect  was  dreary 
in  the  extreme. 

The  Buttons  camped  for  the  night  beside  the  brook 
they  had  been  following,  and  in  the  morning  pushed  on. 

"Let  me  go  on  ahead  with  Solomon!"  begged  Hugh; 
and  the  two  were  allowed  to  precede  the  rest  of  the  party. 

They  were  hardly  out  of  sight  when  Richard  called  his 
brother's  attention  to  a  singular  black  cloud,  creeping 
up  over  the  northern  sky. 

Piling  huge  heaps  of  shadowy  vapor  on  high,  it  spread 
rapidly,  until  the  sun  disappeared,  and  every  oljject  wore 
a  lifeless,  gray  aspect.  It  was  clear  that  a  severe  storm 
was  lit  hand. 

Immediate  preparations  were  made  to  meet  it.  Tents 
were  spread,  and  secured  with  double  pegs.  Everything 
was  got  under  cover  as  fast  as  possible;  and  none  too 
soon,  for  the  men  Iuk]  barely  time  to  dive  into  the  tents. 


218 


THE  liEl)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


nnd  dosG  the  fl;ips,  before  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents, 
tl.nnder  boomed  and  rattled  like  a  park  of  artillery,  and 
the  liglitning  glittered  almost  incessantly. 
^  Mr.  Dntton  was  not  much  worried  about  Hugh,  for 
Solomon  was  a  host  in  himself,  and  would  doubtless  find 
shelter  for  himself  and  the  boy  somewhere.  At  the 
worst,  only  a  thorough  ducking  could  result. 

The  storm  lasted  all  the  forenoon,  and  left  both  ground 
and  bushes  so  wet  that  it  was  decided  to  be  impracticable 
to  go  on  before  the  next  day.  A  musket  was  discharged 
three  times,  therefore,  to  recall  the  wanderers.  As  they 
did  not  come  in  at  once,  the  signal  was  repeated.  By  six 
o'clock  the  party  began  to  worry  a  little,  and  Peeschee, 
with  Carlo,  was  sent  on  to  hunt  up  the  two  absentees' 
At  ten  o'clock,  just  after  sunset,  he  returned  with  news 
of  grave  import. 

He  had  followed  the  trail  for  fully  three  miles,  when  he 
came  on  a  collection  of  Indian  huts,  from  which  smoke 
was  ascending,  showing  that  some  members  of  the  tribe 
at  least  were  at  home.  He  saw  nothing  of  them,  how- 
ever, nor  of  the  missing  ones.  Whether  the  natives  were 
hostile  or  not,  he  could  not  tell.  The  huts  or  wigwams, 
he  said,  looked  something  like  the  work  of  coast  Indians.' 
but  had  this  peculiarity,  that  they  were  covered  with 
skins  of  the  brown  bear,  instead  of  the  more  ordinary  hides. 

At  this  the  Chilkats  pricked  up  their  ears. 

'•'  Well,  what  is  it,  man  ?     Speak  out !  "  said   Dick   to 
the  nearest,  slapping  the  stock  of  his  rifle  impatiently. 


M 


CAPTURED  BV   UliOWy   HEARS. 


219 


"  Yon  say  liim  tent  have  bear  skin  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  P'r'aps  liim  Brown  Bear  Chilkat." 

"  What  does  he  mean  ? "  asked  Dick,  appealing  to 
Peeschee. 

''  Biggest  tribe  of  Chilkats  called  '  Brown  Bears,'  " 
answered  the  Fox,  laconically. 

"  And  you  think  there  may  be  a  detachment  of  them 
in  this  out-of-the-way  place  ?" 

Peeschee  nodded. 

Dick  was  about  to  question  the  packers  still  further, 
when  he  noticed  that  the  one  who  had  spoken  was  gazing 
eagerly  at  a  little  ornament  which  dangled  from  the 
bracelet  on  Flossie's  wrist. 

"  What  that  ?  "  asked  the  Chilkat,  eagerly. 

"  Oh,"  said  Floss,  ''  that's  just  a  little  charm  for  my 
bangles.  Mamma  bought  it  in  Victoria.  See  —  it's  a 
bear's  head,  I  believe." 

The  dark  faces  of  the  Chilkats  bent  eagerly  over  the 
flattened  bit  of  copper,  and  two  or  three  guttural  remarks 
were  exchanged  in  their  own  language. 

''  Well,  what  mischief  are  you  up  to  now  ?  "  demanded 
Richard,  after  he  had  watched  the  pantomime  long  enouo-h. 
The  Chilkat  looked  up. 

''  You  buy  boy  and  great  hunter  wid  dat,"  pointing  to 
the  charm. 

"  H'm  !  seems  to  me,  I  remember  now,"  mused  Dick. 
"  The  Brown  Bears  are  the  wealthiest  and  biggest  clan  of 


.;! 


220 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


\       \' 


'\S 


1         1 


■  i  -!  A 


the  Chilkats,  and  copper  is  called  by  them  the  most  pre- 
■      Clous  metal.     Is  that  so,  Fox  ?  " 

Peeschee  nodded  again. 

"  Exactly  so.  And  the  most  valuable  trinket  you  can 
offer  them  is  a  brown  bear  carved  in  copper !  That's  the 
very  thing ! " 

''  Who  shall  take  it  to  the  tribe  ? "  asked  Mr.  Dutton, 
hastily. 

"  Hadn't  these  Chilkats  better  go  ?  " 
But  the  packers  hung  back,  and  Peeschee  explained 
with  a  shrug  of   his  shoulders,   that   they  belonged    to 
another   and    inferior   clan,   the   Penguins,  and   d^d  not 
relish  meeting  their  superiors. 

Thereupon  Mr.  Dutton  declared  he  would  go  himself 
leaving  Dick  in  command  of  the  camp,  and  takincr  Pees- 
chee along  as  guide.  Carlo  should  have  been  left  at 
home,  but  managed  to  slip  of!  just  as  they  were  startincr* 
and  only  joined  them  when  it  was  too  late  to  send  him 
back.  The  council  of  war  had  been  held  late  at  night  • 
the  ransom  party  started  early  next  morning. 

As  they  advanced,  Mr.  Dutton  found  "that  he  was 
entering  a  tract  of  country  strikingly  different  from  any- 
thmg  he  had  yet  seen.  A  fire  seemed  to  have  swept  over 
It  at  some  remote  period,  clearing  off  all  the  larger  timber. 
In  the  valleys  and  along  the  water-courses,  vegetation  had 
sprung  up  and  flourished  luxuriantly ;  but  from  the  hills 
the  very  soil  itself  had  been  washed  away  by  heavy  rain, 
leaving   only    the    bare    ledges.      These   ^yere    composed 


i  I 


CAPTURED  BY  IiRO]V]Sr  HEARS. 


221 


mostly  of  limestone,  and  were  full  of  caves,  so  that  one 
huge  precipice  looked  fairly  like  a  bank  filled  with-  swal- 
lows' nests. 

'•  Soft !  soft !  "  whispered  Peeschee,  motioning  with 
his  hand.     "  Much  big  lot  Chilkat  squaw  !  " 

Peeschee  was  a  little  in  advance,  and  had  nimbi v 
mounted  to  the  top  of  one  of  those  boulders  left  by  the 
ice-drift  of  the  glacial  period.  The  other  crept  to  his 
side,  and  peered  over  the  edge  of  the  boulder. 

About  a  hundred  yards  beyond  them  was  the  Indian 
village,  in  plain  sight.  The  huts  were  at  the  base  of  one 
of  those  high  and  steep  precipices  pierced  with  caves. 
They  were  built  of  timber  and  brush,  with  huge,  shaggy 
bear-skins  thrown  over  them.  In  a  little  open  space 
between  the  huts  and  a  small  lake  which  stretched  away 
to  the  westw^ard  were  twenty  or  thirty  hideous-looking 
old  squaws,  wrapped  in  blankets  and  seated  in  a  circle 
around  a  man  and  boy,  who  were  lying,  bound  hand  and 
foot,  in  their  midst. 

A  glance  only  was  necessary  to  identify  the  captives  as 
the  two  missing  members  of  the  expedition,  Solomon  and 
Hugh. 

The  faces  of  the  two  presented  a  strange  contrast. 
Solomon  glared  at  his  jailors  with  a  look  of  extreme  dis- 
favor, that  would  have  made  Mr.  Dutton  shout  with 
laughter  had  not  the  situation  been  so  serious.  Hugh,  on 
the  contrar}^  was  pale  as  death,  and,  while  he  tried  his 
best  to  look  amiabhe,  kept  glancing  around  for  succor. 


1 


ooo 


THE  JiED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


ii 


li 


Mr.  Diitton  and  Peeschee,  Ijino-  on  their  faces,  and 
peering  through  tlie  thick  houghs  of  a  spruce,  could 
easily  see  all  this  without  heing  seen. 

The  squaws  now  set  up  an  excited  jabbering,  pointing 
at  the  two  whites  before  them,  and  di.^;cussing  some  poin't, 
with  the  utmost  vehemence. 

Peeschee  made  out,  after  a  while,  that  they  were  in- 
difeerent  what  became  of  poor  Hugh,  but  that  they 
wanted  Solomon  for  a  husband,  several  of  the  ugliest  of 
the  lot  claiming  him,  each  to  the  exclusion  of  the  rest. 
Perhaps  it  was  fortunate  that  the  long-limbed  hunter 
could  not  understand  what  they  were  up  to,  or  he  might 
have  expressed  liimself  vigorously  as  to  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  any  of  the  fair  "Brown  Bears"  Ijofore 
him. 

'•  Where  do  you  suppose  the  men  are  ?  "  whispered  Mr. 
Button  to  his  companion. 

"  Men  gone  'way  off  to  fish.     All  come  back  in  winter. 


L 


ive  m  wigwam  now. 


''Well,  the   women   won't   hurt   their  prisoners,  will 
they?" 

"Squaws    much  bad,"   replied  the  Fox,  sententiously. 
'orse  than  men." 

^^^lintever  plan  might  have  been  matured  for  a  rescue 
was  now  frustrated  by  a  move  on  Carlo's  part.  The  faith- 
ful Newfoundland  was  as  much  interested  in  the  scene  as 
anybody;  and  when  Mr.  Button  unconsciously  loosened 
his  grip  on  his  collar,  the  dog  freed  liimself  by  a  sudden 


I    COME    FKOM    TIIK    (JUICAT    MKIUCINK    JVIAX/ 


'If^ 


fffll 


CAPTURED   BY  BliOWN  HEARS. 


22') 


jerk,  and  went  crashing  down  through  the  bushes  toward 
his  young  master. 

A  perfect  Babel  of  noises  ensued.  Two  or  three  dozen 
lean,  sharp-nosed  curs,  such  as  the  Alaskans  use  for  their 
sledges  in  tlie  winter,  sprang  toward  the  intruder,  yajyplny, 
snarling,  and  howling  vociferously.  The  ring  of  squaws 
started  to  their  feet,  and  several  muskets  were  produced 
from  hiding-places.  Carlo  paid  no  attention  to  anv  one 
until  he  had  given  both  Hugh  and  Solomon  a  plentiful 
lapping  all  over  their  faces,  a  caress  which  they  could  not 
prevent,  as  their  hands  were  tied  behind  them. 

Immediate  action  was  necessary.  Mr.  Dutton  '..id  the 
Fox  hesitated  no  longer,  but  followed  in  Carlo's  tracks. 
Peeschee  advanced  first,  holding  up  his  hands  in  sign  of 
amity. 

The  squaws,  seeing  a  man  of  their  own  color,  lowered 
the  threatening  muzzles  of  their  old  Hudson's  Bay 
nuiskets. 

'*I  have  come  from  the  great  white  medicine-man." 
said  Peeschee,  rapidly,  ii^.  his  own  tongue,  ''  to  visit  the 
royal  clan  of  the  Chilkats,  the  noble  Brown  Bears;" 

The  squaws  looked  at  one  another,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  The  medicine-man  has  decided  to  give  to  the  Brown 
Bears,  and  the  women  of  the  Brown  Bears,  a  marvellous 
present." 

Sensation  among  the  squaws. 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  an  image  of  the  terrible,  the  fierce 
bear  himself,  the  dweller  in  caves,  the  awful  one,  eno-raved 


'i  I 


!     h 


11 

I  .J. 
■■t     r- 


rir'i 


226 


TJIE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


in  the  rich  copper  of  the  mountain  ?  No,  you  have  not ! 
Here,  the  groat  white  medicine-man  is  ready  to  give  this 
to  you.  See  !  "  And  he  held  up  Flossie's  trinket,  so  that 
the  sunlight  glinted  on  the  bright  metal. 

Several  of  the  squaws  started  forward  eagerly,  when 
Peeschee  suddenly  drew  back. 

''Wait!"  he  commanded,  waving  his  hand.  "I  will 
consult  the  medicine-man  once  more." 

He  beckoned,  and  Mr.  Button  came  forward  from  the 
grove,  where  he  had  been  awaiting  this  signal. 

Peeschee  whispered  one  or  two  words  to  him,  and  then 
turned  once  more  to  the  Chilkats,  whose  brows  were 
beginning  to  darken. 

"He  consents  to  give  you  the  wonderful  image  on  one 
condition.  That  is  that  you  will  set  free  the  captives  now 
lying  beside  us,  the  mighty  man  with  the  long  arm,  and 
the  boy  beloved  by  the  black  dog ;  and,  moreover,  that 
you  will  do  no  harm  to  his  tribe,  who  must  shortly  pass 
through  the  village  of  the  Brown  Bears,  on  their  way  to 
the  mountains  of  fire." 

Peeschee  well  knew  that  no  Alaskan  Indian  would  ap- 
proach within  twenty  miles  of  a  volcano.  The  statement 
that  the  white  men  were  to  visit  those  abodes  of  evil 
spirits  and  magic  evidently  impressed  them,  as  he  had 
intended  it  should. 

"  The  women  of  the  Brown  Bears  will  let  the  boy  go 
with  the  black  dog,"  they  announced,  after  some  consulta- 
tion among  themselves ;  and,  stooping  down,  one  of  them 


I 


VAVTUREI)  KY   HliOWN   HKARS. 


'2>7 


cut  the  thongs  that  bound  poor  Hugh,  who  staggei'ccl 
stiffly  to  his  feet,  rubbing  his  joints,  and  groaning  in  spite 
of  liiniself  at  the  twinges  the  change  of  position  caused 
liim. 

"  No  !  "  said  Peeschee,  firmly.  '-  Both  nmst  go  free. 
And  if  the  Bears  should  refuse,  then  will  the  storm  come 
upon  their  village,  as  it  did  yesterday,  and  destroy  every 
woman  in  the  tribe  for  the  evil  done  to  the  whitt> 
strangers !  " 

Whatever  effect  Peeschee's  speech  might  have  had,  Mr. 
Button  added  the  last  straw  by  producing  a  small  pocket- 
mirror,  which  he  handed  to  Peeschee.  The  latter  held  it 
carelessly  so  as  to  let  the  light  reflect  from  it,  straight  into 
the  eyes  of  first  one,  then  another  of  the  delighted  squaws. 

As  with  one  accord,  two  or  three  of  them  freed  their 
coveted  bridegroom,  and  again  stretched  out  their  hands 
for  the  gifts. 

"  Not  yet,"  said  Peeschee,  solemnly.  "  When  the  sun 
shall  touch  the  trees  on  yonder  hill,  and  all  the  tribe  of 
the  great  white  medicine-man  shall  have  gone  their  way 
toward  the  land  of  fire,  then  shall  you  have  both  gifts, 
and  some  of  the  white  man's  tea  to  cheer  your  hearts. 
Farewell ! " 

With  these  words,  all  four  started  on  the  return  trip  to 
the  camp,  not  without  misgivings  that  some  squaw  might 
repent,  and  select  their  backs  for  targets.  Instead  of  this, 
however,  the  women  began  a  strange  chant,  swaying  to 
and  fro,  and  waving  both  arms,  until  the  travellers  were 


; 


228 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


:i 


out  of  siglit.     EvL'ii  tlion  the  wailiim'  notes,  like  a  dir^e. 
could  be  heard  floating  after  them  down  the  valley.* 

With  all  haste  the  camp  was  reached,  goods  packed, 
and  the  paity  put  in  marching  order.  By  noon  they 
came  once  more  to  the  village.  To  the  surprise  of  all, 
not  a  living  being  was  in  sight.  The  wigwams  w^ere 
perfectly  deserted,  and  not  even  a  dog  was  to  be  seen. 
Evidently,  the  Brown  Bears  feared  a  sumnuiry  punish- 
uient  from  the  mighty  medicine-man,  or  -  Shaman,"  to 
use  the  native  term,  who  bore  about  upon  his  august  per- 
son the  image  of  their  savage  prototype. 

At  last  Florence  descried  a  dark  face  peering  down 
from  one  of  the  caves,  higli  above  them  ;  then  another, 
and  another.  The  squaws  had  taken  to  e^trth,  and,  while 
there,  were  certain!}-  safe. 

Peeschee  alone  stayed  behind,  and,  when  he  had  given 
the  expedition  time  enough  to  gain  a  lozen  miles  by  hard 
walking,  he  called  in  low,  soft  tones  io  t.ie  women.  One 
by  one.  they  came  trooping  in. 

The  Fox  pointed  silently  to  the  sunlight,  just  gilding 
the  topmost  boughs  of  the  far-off  spruces  on  the  hilly 
horizon,  as  it  sank  from  sight. 

Then  he  drew  from  his  pouch  the  copper  trinket,  the 
looking-glass,  and  a  half-pound  package  of  tea.     These 

*  If  any  of  my  boy  readers  should  think  that  Peeschee  spoke  in  more  lofty 
strains  than  would  be  possible  for  a  degraded  Alaskan  Indian  to  use,  let  him  send 
to  the  proper  source  for  a  copy  of  an  address  recently  made  ac  Met-lah-Kah-tla  by 
one  of  the  natives,  in  which  much  more  stately  language  was  employed  than 
that  employed  by  Uie  humble  guide  of  the  Dutton  expedition. 


cAi'TriiKh  iiy  liiiow.x  liKins. 


'2'>\\ 


iirtic'les  liu  j)l;i(*('(l  on  thu  ground,  waved  his  liands,  as  il" 
in  blessing,  over  tli(^  village,  and  departed  witli  stately 
stride. 

Once  out  of  siu'lit,  his  diirnitv  dei)artGd.  and  he  sorani- 
bled  through  the  woods  like  a  wild-eat,  overtaking  the 
main  bodv  at  a  little  after  midnight. 

The  hieroglyphic  on  the  map  was  clear.  Th(»  lirown 
Bears  dwelling  in  the  caves,  —  any  one  could  see  it  now. 

To  avoid  the  hills,  the  route  on  the  mo)'row  swerved 
toward  the  north.  The  three  peculiar-looking  marks, 
"  like  crorpiet  hoops,"  observed  Floss,  proved  to  indicate 
three  rounded  mountains,  far  to  the  west.  The  dots, 
some  eighty  miles  further  on,  asserted  themselves  as 
swarms  of  mosqnitoes  in  a  swampy  territory  ;  while  the 
three  K's,  to  the  east,  were  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
flying  eagles,  of  whom  an  immense  number  were  seen 
soaring  above  the  cliffs  near  the  camp  on  August  20. 

On  the  next  day  a  discovery  w^as  made,  which  struck 
terror  into  every  heart.  It  meant  privation,  danger  of  a 
fearful  kind,  possibly  death  to  one  or  all  of  the  party. 
It  will  need  but  one  sentence  to  explain  all.  And  that 
must  be  the  opening  sentence  of  the  next  chapter. 


;i 


llttSi 


ill 


h  * 


,;^(! 


.   CHAPTER  XX. 


?'h'\ 


\i 


iult! 

INTER— a  white  valley  between  dark  moun- 
tain walls  reaching  up,  up,  into  the  cold  blue 
ice  of  eternal  glaciers,  until  they  lose  themselves 
in  white  frost  clouds,  impenetrable  in  their  clammy  folds 
—  two  log  huts,  or  rather  shanties,  one  of  them  contain- 
ing, besides  two  women,  one  black  and  the  other  white, 
a  sick  girl,  tossing  feverishly  on  the  pile  of  fir  and  cedar 
boughs  that  serve  for  a  bed. 

Reader,  I  told  you  in  the  last  chapter  that  you  could 
read  in  one  sentence  the  story  of  the  misfortune  that  had 
been  threatening  the  Buttons  ever  since  the  miserable 
adventure  at  Fort  Selkirk,  and  which  had  stared  them 
plainly  in  the  face  ere  they  had  accomplished  half  the 
distance  between  the  river  and  their  fateful  goal.  Fever 
had  overtaken  our  sunny-haired  little  Flossie.  Far  from 
every  physician  and  every  comfort  of  home,  the  mother 
had  seen  with  agony  the  symptoms  gaining  from  day  to 
day. 

Why  did  they  not  turn  and  hasten  back  to  the  settle- 
ments ?  you  say.  Because  return  iq?  the  Yukon,  against 
the  swift  current,  was  impossible  with  the  only  means  of 

2:]0 


HALT. 


231 


transportation  at  their  command  ;  and  from  Fort  Yukon, 
where  they  struck  off  from  the  river,  to  its  mouth  would 
have  been  a  voyage  of  a  clear  thousand  miles,  and  that, 
too,  through  the  very  kind  of  district  most  conducive  to 
the  malarial  disorder  which  threatened  the  girl  —  to  say 
nothing  of  the  countless  perils  of  the  trip.  Even  should 
they  reach  the  sea  in  safety,  they  would  be  too  late  to 
take  the  last  south-bound  ships  to  the  settlements ;  and 
the  small  post  at  St.  Michael's,  in  the  midst  of  a  desolate 
land  of  wintry  storms,  was  not  an  alluring  prospect. 

Had  all  gone  well,  the  lieutenant  had  hoped  to  pilot 
his  party,  after  the  Red  Mountain  was  found  and  roughly 
surveyed,  to  the  country  lying  about  the  head-waters  of 
the  Copper  River,  down  which  they  could  raft  to  the  coast, 
and  make  the  short  sea-trip  easily  in  canoes  to  Sitka. 

"  Had  all  gone  well ! "  But  all  had  not  gone  well ; 
and  hire  was  the  expedition  snowed  in,  in  the  interior  of 
I  .ne  oi"  the  wildest  and  coldest  habitable  countries  on  the 
globe,  with  no  prospect  of  release  until  the  following 
Ma}' ;  and  with  a  sick  girl  suffering  for  want  of  prope. 
nursing  and  medicine.     Truly,  all  had  not  gone  well ! 

To  understand  fully  just  ho.,  matters  stood,  we  must 
retrace  our  steps  a  little. 

We  left  the  expedition  on  the  borders  of  a  small  and 
exquisitely  beautiful  lake,  surrounded  by  stately  red  cedars 
of  ccntiiries'  growth.  Tills  is  the  first  you  have  heard  of 
the  lake,  you  say  ?  Im-n  back  and  look  at  Peeschee's  in- 
valuable chart.     In  the  centre,  do  you  see  that  circle  with 


2;  J  2 


rilK  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


souietliiiig  like  a  double-barbed  arrow  sticking  up  beside 
it?  Tliat  is  tbe  lake;  the  arrow  indicated,  beyond  a 
doubt,  the  lofty  trees  that  mirrored  their  evergreen 
branches  in  its  clear  depths  along  the  northern  shore. 

Beautiful,  bevond  anvthinjJi;  thev  had  yet  seen,  was  this 
broad,  placid  sheet  of  water,  stretching  away  .to  the  south 
for  nearly  twenty  miles.  But  before  morning  the  trav- 
ellers wished  themselves  a  thousand  leagues  from  its 
dimpling  waves  and  bosky  shores. 

Little  Floss  had  complained  quietly,  during  the  day,  of 
greater  fatigue  than  usual. 

''  It  makes  my  back  ache  so,"  she  said,  "  to  climb  over 
these  trees  ! " 

So  the  Indians  made  an  armchair,  as  they  had  in  the 
pass,  and  carried  her  for  a  while.  But  she  soon  tired  of 
this,  and  asked  to  be  allowed  to  walk  again. 

'•Never  mind,"  said  Uncle  Dick,  cheerfully.  ''We're 
going  straight  toward  home  now.  little  girl.  In  not  many 
days  we  shall  see  salt  water  again,  and  you  shiiJl  have 
vour  cosey  old  room  at  Sitka." 

Flossie  did  not  reply,  but  a  tear  trembled  at  the  end 
of  her  long  brown  lashes,  as  she  thought  of  Sheldon 
and  home.  That  night,  in  the  camp  beside  the  lake, 
she  had  an  unmistakable  chill,  and  the  next  morninu' 
was  so  feverish  and  weak  that  they  did  not  dare  to 
move  on. 

During  the  day,  however,  and  the  two  that  follo-.sed. 
she  gained   rapidly ;   so   nuich   so  they  started  forv^jird 


'^^y 


A    (.OUNCIL    Ol-'    WAK, 


I  m 
m  iH 

i 


I  I  i 


r 


HALT! 


23,-) 


again  on  their  weary  march.  About  a  week  later  they 
found  themselves  in  the  rough  country  indicated  on  the 
map  by  marks  like  this,  A  A  A  A- 

Here  the  poor  girl  utterly  gave  out,  and  from  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  August  until  the  tenth  of  September  the  expedi- 
tion remained  in  permanent  camp,  their  hopes  now  raised 
by  a  seeming  improvement  in  her  health,  now  depressed 
again  by  renewed  attacks  of  chills  and  fever. 

The  wind  began  to  sweep  down  savagely  from  the 
heights  beyond,  and  the  nights  became  very  cold. 

One  morning,  the  ground  was  found  to  be  white  with  a 
heavy  frost.  It  was  plain  that  something  must  be  done, 
and  that  quickly. 

A  council  was  called,  and  the  men  all  gathered  around 
the  blazing  fire  in  front  of  the  tents. 

"  It's  of  no  use  to  try  to  return  to  the  settlements,  that's 
certain,"  began  Mr.  Button.  "We  are  over  three  hun- 
dred miles  from  the  Yukon,  and,  if  we  found  the  fort 
abandoned  for  the  winter,  we  should  have  a  clear  thou- 
sand miles  of  rafting  before  us,  down  to  St.  Michael's,  all 
the  time  through  low  country.  Flossie's  only  safety  "  — 
here  the  strong  man's  mustache  twitched,  but  he  con- 
trolled himself  and  went  on  —  "  is  in  keeping  to  the  high 
grounds." 

"  And  we  may  just  as  well  give  up  all  idea  of  going 
on,"  added  the  lieutenant,  gloomily.  ''  In  the  first  place, 
Flossie  isn't  fit  to  move,  and,  secondly,  we  are  a  good  three 
hundred  miles  from  the  nearest  point  on  the  coast  —  say 


236 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


w  n 


I'  i 


im 


m 


somewhere  along  William's  Sound  —  unless  all  my  calcu- 
lations are  wrono;." 

"  And  no  sign  of  the  Red  Mountain  yet !  " 

It  was  Robert  who  spoke  last.     All  eyes  were  turned 
on  Peeschee,  who  felt  that  his  reputation  was  at  stake. 

"Red  Mountain  there!  "  said  the  Indian,  impressively, 
pointing  to  the  southeast. 

"Well,  for  my  part,"  grumbled  Solomon,  who  had  thus 
far  taken  no  part  ii-  the  discussion,  -  I'm  inclined  tew 
believe  that  the  Fox,  thar,  dreamed  the  whole  Inisiness ! 
Thar  ain't  no  Red  Maounting,  and  thar  never  was."  He 
struck  the  but  of  his  rifle  on  the  ground,  to  emphasize 
his  words.     ''  And  never  was  !  "  he  repeated,  angrily. 

Peeschee  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height^  He  re- 
garded the  hunter  one  moment  in  silence.  Then  said 
slowly  :  — 

'•Red  Mountain  there.  Peeschee  no  lie.  He  go  brino^ 
back  red  rock.  Come  back  in  one  moon,"  nmking  a 
circular  sweep  with  his  hand. 

Before  any  one  could  stop  him,  or  realize  what  he  was 
doing,  the  Fox  turned  his  back  on  the  little  group  by  the 
Are,  and  strode  oif  toward  the  woods. 

"  By  George,  that's  rough  !  "  exclaimed  Richard,  spring- 
ing to  his  feet. 

Solomon  grasped  his  rifle  angrily,  and  glared  after  the 
retreating  Indian. 

"  I  swan,  he's  up  tew  some  rascally  trick  !  "  shouted  the 
sinewy  backwoodsman.      "Come  back  here,  you   .sneak- 


UALT! 


2:Vi 


ing  Fox!  Come  back,  or  I'll  stop  ye  in  a  way  ye 
won't  like ! " 

"  Hold  on,  Solomon."  interposed  the  leader,  seeing  that 
his  follower  was  really  in  earnest,  ''you  can't  stop  him 
now\  and  if  you  did  he'd  make  off  within  twenty -four 
hours.     The  sooner  he  goes,  the  sooner  he'll  get  back." 

"I  tell  you  he's  goin'  to  get  some  tribe  o'  Bears  or 
Penguins  or  Catamaounts  or  some  o'  his  ugly  packs  daown 
on  us."  said  Solomon,  still  fingering  his  rifle  excitedly. 
'•Thar  never  was  an  honest  Injun  yit,  an'  I  don't  believe 
the  line's  started  with  a  Fox." 

By  this  time  the  altercation  was  needless,  for,  with  a 
parting  wave  of  his  hand,  Peeschee  was  lost  to  sight  in 
the  thick  '•  black  growth  "  that  covered  the  foot-hills  of 
the  lofty  range  along  the  horizon. 

"  Well,"  resumed  Mr.  Dutton,  with  a  sigh, ''  there's  one 
less  mouth  to  feed  for  a  month,  any  way." 

"We  can't  stay  in  these  tents  nnich  longer,"  suggested 
Hugh,  "•  or  w^e'll  freeze  to  death.  I  was  awfully  cold  last 
night." 

It  was  curious  that  nobody  referred  to  the  map. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  tacit  understanding  that  it  should 
not  be  consulted  in  this  emergency.  The  last  time  Mr. 
Dutton  had  produced  Peeschee's  masterpiece,  which  had 
travelled  across  the  continent  to  Sheldon  a  year  before, 
and  back  again  in  the  wealthy  mill-owner's  inside  vest- 
pocket,  a  strange  expression  had  come  into  the  faces  that 
were  gathered  around   him,  and  were  looking  over  his 


238 


TUE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I  -Tt! 


'^1 


Shoulder  as  usual.  The  route  was  clearly  traced  from 
the  fort  on  the  Yukon  to  their  present  camp.  There 
were  the  cataract,  the  caves  of  the  Bears,  the  Three 
Buttes,  the  insect-infested  swamp,  the  eagles  on  the  wing 
the  fair  lake  with  its  symbol  of  the  magnificent  forest 
beside  it ;  yes,  and  the  hill  country  was  plainly  enough 
defined.  Why,  then,  shudder  at  the  first  glance  upon 
this  faithful  chart  ? 

^    Ah,  there  was  one    more  hieroglyphic,  whose  fearful 
import  none  could   mistake.      At   the  very  spot  where 
they  were  encamped,  and  where  all  possibility  of  either 
retreat   or  advance  wa^  cut   oft',  was   reared   the   hate- 
ful symbol  of  death,  the  skull  and  bone.     Could  it  be, 
then,  that  this  was  to  be  the  end  of  their  labors  ^     The 
map  was  hastily  thrust  aside  -  buried  deep,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  largest  pack  of  goods,  where  no  careless  hand  could 
reach  it  and  bring  it  unwittingly  to  light. 

Out  of  sight  _  out  of  sight  -  but  not  one  of  the  party 
forgot.  *^ 


M-  I 


■■■t  1 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

WINTER-QUARTERS. 

|HE  lieutenant  was  the  first  to  throw  ofE  liie 
gloom  which  oppressed  the  little  circle  around 
the  fire  after  Peeschee's  departure. 

"  Well,"  he  cried,  cheerily,  "  there's  no  use  in  our  mop- 
ing here,  at  all  events.  I've  been  in  a  good  deal  tighter 
place  than  this,  and  I  don't  give  up  the  ship.  If  we  are 
to  stay  here  for  a  while,  we  must  have  a  place  to  live  in." 

''  Flossie  is  certainly  no  worse,"  added  Mr.  Button, 
catching  the  other's  hopeful  tone.  "  Perhaps  the  winter 
air  will  be  the  very  best  thing  for  her,  if  we  can  make  a 
comfortable  shelter  for  the  cold  months." 

"  Oh,  good,  good ! "  cried  little  Nat,  who  had  just 
run  out  from  his  sister's  tent.  "  Shall  we  have  a  real 
log  cabin  to  live  in  ?     Like  President  Lincoln  ?  " 

Mr.  Button  laughed.  "  Who  knows,  Nat,''  said  he, 
taking  the  boy  on  his  knee,  "  but  you  will  be  president 
some  day !  and  people  will  read  about  President  Nathaniel 
Button's  early  hardships  in  the  wilds  of  Alaska  !  " 

"  Well,  I  know  'twould  make  an  awful  good  book," 
said  the  boy,  decidedly.     "  I  just  wish  I  could  read  it, 

280 


,ni 


240 


THE  UED  MOUyTMN  OF  ALASKA. 


K]  ;^ 


M,ii.   i 


iff 


m- 


tf:f^- 


I  ,1, 


B  i 


■  l  \ 


1 


about  somebody  else.  Won't  you  tell  a  man  all  about 
it  when  we  get  home,  i)apa,  and  let .  him  make  a  book 
of  it  ? " 

'•Ami  put  you  in?" 

'•  Yes,  and  Carlo,  and  all !  " 

"  Illustrated  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  papa." 

Solomon  set  up  a  great  laugh. 

"  I'd  jest  like  to  see  a  picter  o'  me  drawn  into  a  book," 
said  he.  '•  Haow  pooty  'twould  be !  Make  it  sell  like 
hot  buns  !  " 

"  Well,  I  know  you  aren't  7'ery  nice-looking."  said  Nat, 
frankly,  "but  you're  awfully  strong.  Solomon,  and  I 
guess  you're  real  good.  too.  I'd  have  a  picture  of  you 
chopping  down  that  tree  for  a  bridge  !  " 

Solomon  laughed  again,  as  he  exchanged  his  rifle  for 
an  axe,  and  gave  the  fire  a  kick  with  his  heavy  boot,  to 
settle  the  red  brands;  and  remarked  that  "  ef  he  wus 
goin'  to  set  fer  his  picter,  he  guessed  he'd  l3etter  be 
buildin'  a  haouse  to  den  up  in,  over  winter."  —  a  figure 
taken  from  the  hibernating  habits  of  his  neighbor,  Ursus 
Arctos,  of  Alaska. 

The  men  now  went  to  work  with  a  wdll.  The  sounds 
of  axes,  the  rustle  of  flying  chips,  the  crackling  and 
crashing  of  falling  trees  filled  the  air  with  cheery  sounds 
and  delicious  woody  smells. 

"  I'm  hungry  as  an  ox."  said  Rob,  when  dinner-time 
came.     "  Best  forenoon's  work  I  ever  did  yet." 


i- : ;  1 


]\'INTER-Q  UA  R  TEIiS. 


211 


Flossie's  eyes  brightened  witli  interest,  and  she  listened 
eagerly  to  the  plans  of  the  architects. 

''  ^Ye  shall  need  two  big  log  huts,"  said  Mr.  Button. 
"  connected  l)y  a  covered  passageway.  Each  ol'  them 
will  be  divided  into  two  parts.  One  of  the  huts,  on  a 
little  higher  ground  than  the  other,  and  a  little  nearer 
the  shelter  of  the  woods,  shall  have  bedrooms  in  it  for 
you  and  nie,  Ella,  and  for  Flossie  and  Chloe.  as  well  as 
for  the  three  boys.  The  other  half  of  the  building  shall 
be  used  as  a  dining-room  and  general  living-room." 

"  And  wdiere  shall  we  cook  ?  " 

"  Tlie  kitchen  shall  be  in  the  other  building,  and  beds 
for  the  rest  of  the  men." 

"  Teddy  shall  sleep  close  by  me."  declared  Hugh,  throw- 
ing his  arm  around  the  boy's  shoulder;  a  demonstration 
to  which  the  warm-hearted  Ted  responded  with  an  affec- 
tionate luig.  Carlo  set  up  a  loud  barking,  just  for  fun, 
and  everybody  was  in  the  best  of  spirits. 

'^  There  will  be  a  good  large  fireplace  in  each  hut,"  Mr. 
Button  explained  further.  ''  We  can  -'^t  -^^"oe  good  clay 
from  the  banks  of  the  brook,  about  half  a  mile  above 
here ;  and  stones  are  plent}'  enough." 

•  That  afternoon  all  hands  were  hard  at  work.  Solomon 
was  in  his  element,  swinging  his  shining  axe,  and  bring- 
ing down  tree  after  tree.  Poplars  and  spruces  were 
mostly  chosen,  for  their  soft  wood  and  long  straight 
trunks,  from  one  to  two  feet  in  diameter.  As  soon  as  a 
tree  came  down,  it  was  pounced  upon  by  Richard  <ind  his 


»* 


242 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALAiiKA. 


r 


!      I 


brother,  who  liewed  oft"  the  few  boughs  that  grew  from 
the  lower  portion,  and  cut  the  logs  into  uniform  lengths 
of  about  forty  feet.  The  large  branches  were  pulled  away 
by  Hugh  and  Rob,  who  cut  off  the  smaller  green  boughs, 
which  in  turn  were  taken  to  a  point  close  by  the  camp, 
and  piled  up,  by  Teddy  and  little  Nat.  The  Cbilkats  did 
not  relish  the  work,  and,  rather  to  the  relief  of  the  leader, 
disappeared  at  the  close  of  the  day ;  nor  did  he  ever  set 
eyes  on  them  again.  They  probably  joined  some  of  their 
tribe  on  the  Yukon.  Fortunately,  the  camp  was  so  care- 
fully guarded  by  Soloniou  and  Carlo,  with  a  view  to  this 
very  contingency,  that  nothing  whatever  was  stolen  by 
the  deserters.  l)eyond  a  small  case  of  canned  beef. 

Next  morning,  work  went  on  with  more  alacrity  than 
ever,  although  the  assistance  of  the  runaway  Chilkats, 
poor  as  it  had  been,  was  missed  in  handlmg  the  heavy 
timbers.  Joe  and  Jim,  however,  laljored  bravely  in  their 
stead. 

By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  Solomon,  who  had 
quietly  assumed  direction  of  the  house-building,  announced 
that  he  had  logs  enoug-h  to  make  a  stait.  In  addition  to 
the  longer  pieces,  he  had  cut  about  twenty,  shorter  by 
fifteen  feet. 

The  boys  had  been  emploj'ed  i\  levelling  off  the  site  as 
well  as  they  could,  without  a  shovel.  The  spot  chosen 
for  the  hut  which  was  to  he  put  up  first,  for  the  use  of 
the  ladies,  was  peculiarly  favorable  to  the  purpose. 

There  was  a  large  rock,  sloping  down  gradually  on  the 


WIXTKIi-Q  UA  R  TKRS. 


243 


side  toward  the  woods,  but  presenting  an  abrupt  and 
vertical  face,  some  six  feet  high,  at  its  opposite  extn^niity. 
Solomon  resolved  that  this  should  form  the  back  of  his 
fireplace,  which  was  to  be  midway  in  the  longer  wall  of 
the  hut. 

Four  logs  were  now  laid  on  the  ground,  and  carefully 
levelled  by  wedging  them  into  place  with  rocks  and  turf. 
They  formed  a  perfect  parallelogram,  forty  feet  by  twenty- 
five.  The  rear  forty-foot  log  came  within  three  feet  of 
the  perpendicular  face  of  the  boulder  just  described.  Tiiis 
log  was  now  cut  away  in  front  of  the  intended  fireplace, 
which  ivas  to  be  six  I'eot  broad. 

The  logs  were  notched  deeply  at  the  corners  of  the  hut, 
and  saddled,  as  had  been  done  in  the  raft-making.  At 
every  point  a  strong  upright  pole  was  driven  to  hold  the 
ends  of  the  logs  which  were  not  supported  by  saddling  on 
others.  This  was  necessary  at  the  sides  of  the  fireplace 
and  the  door.  The  full  length  of  the  lowest  log  was  left 
across  the  latter,  as  Solomon  explained  that  it  would  make 
the  whole  hut  firmer,  and  they  could  easily  step  over  it 
in  going  in  and  out. 

The  laying  of  the  four  foundation  timbers,  and  driving 
stakes,  occupied  the  builders  until  eight  o'clock,  when 
darkness  stopped  the  work.  That  night  the  mercury  in 
Mr.  Button's  little  camp-thermometer  fell  to  20°  Fahren- 
heit, and  ice  formed  across  puddles  and  in  deep  footprints 
down  by  the  brook.  The  sun  came  out  warmly,  however  ; 
and  the  bracing  atmosphere  not  only  added  an  incentive 


mmmm 


244 


ms  BED  MOU^^rAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


V-l 


m 

I  If' 


ilti 


!ii 


to  the  labors  of  building,  but  lightened  them.  Little 
Nat's  work  was  constantly  to  help  Teddy  collect  green  fir 
and  spruce  boughs,  and  soft,  thick  moss ;  they  soon  had  a 
pile  of  each  as  large  as  a  good-sized  haycock. 

Ciiloe  absented  .herself  on  this  particub^r  laorning  for  a 
couple  of   hours,  nnich  to  Mrs.  Button's  surprise?    She 
returned,  liowever,   bearing  a  big  armful   of   green   and 
withered  rushes,  of  wliich  a  great  abundance  lined  a  cove 
in  a  small  pond  close  by.     These  rushes  she  dried  before 
the  fire,  and,  while  they  were  spread  out,  gathered  as  many 
more,  cutting  every  blade  with  scissors  !     On  the  morrow 
she  showed  Mrs.  Button  how  to  braid  the  rushes  into  long 
ropes.     These  she  proposed  to  coil  up  so  as  to  make  mat- 
ting, but    l)oth    string   and    thread    were    scarce.     What 
should    she    do?      She    had    recourse    to    Solomon,    who 
was    half-way  through    the  trunk  of   a  seventy-five-foot 
poplar. 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  the  cliopper.  leaving  his  axe  buried 
in  the  wood,  ''  I  guess  1  c'n  find  suthin''  that'll  dew  ye. 
Look  here !  " 

He  pulled  up  a  little  spruce,  not  more  than  a  foot  high, 
that  grew  beside  the  brook.  As  he  shook  the  dirt  oli',' 
Chloe  could  see  a  large  number  of  fine,  long  rootlets. 

"See  ef  ye  c'n  break  one." 

The  negro  woman  found  theui  tough  as  stationers- 
twine. 

"  Naow,"  said  Solomon,  resuming  his  axe,  "them's  what 
the  Injuns  use  in  sewing  their  bark  canoes.     You  want  to 


WIN  TEIi-q  UA  R  TER  S. 


•2i'> 


git  a  lot  o'  them  leetle   roots,  and  bile  'em  half  a  day. 
Then  they'll  hold  till  the  caovvs  come  home." 

Chink!  chunk!  went  the  axe,  and  the  poplar  chips 
began  to  fly  in  such  a  shower  that  Chloe  was  glad  to 
retreat.  Hugh  helped  her  to  gather  the  roots,  and  before 
night  she  had  an  ample  stock  of  spruce  thread.  The 
mats  grew  daily  after  that.  Flossie  was  never  tired  of 
seeing  the  old  nurse  braid  rushes,  and  even  helped  with 
her  own  little  thin  fingers  once  in  a  while. 

The  hut  was  floored  with  long  spruce  poles,  laid 
side  by  side,  and  hastily  levelled.  Chloe's  mats  laid 
over  these,  with  a  few  fir  boughs  under  the  hollows 
and  uneven  spots,  would  make  the  hut  comfortable 
under  foot. 

The  walls  were  raised  liigher  and  higher.  Solomon 
chopped  steadily  from  morning  till  night.  '•  Bein's  the 
others  had  I'arned  haow  to  lay  the  logs,"  he  said,  "  he'd 
better  use  the  axe."  No  one  disputed  him,  for  he  could 
chop  twice  as  fast  as  any  other  person  in  camp,  besides 
showing  superior  judgment  in  selecting  and  felling  the 
trees. 

The  inside  of  the  hut  was  roughly  partitioned  oft'  with 
light  upright  poles,  covered  with  bark,  to  the  height  of 
about  sev(-n  feet.  Above  that,  interstices  were  left,  for 
free  circulation  of  air.  Across  the  ends  opening  into  the 
main  room,  they  expected  to  hang  skins,  which  could 
be  drawn  back  most  of  the  time.  Two  small  window- 
openings  were  left  in  the  front  wall.     When  asked  how 


til  n    * 


246 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


!;,i: 


IS 


it 


I'fi  n' 


(J  ■ 


they  were  to  be  "glazed,"  Solomon  chuckled,  and  ^id 
he'd  show  'em  before  lony;. 

One  morning  he  announced  that  no  more  logs  would  be 
necessary,  in  his  opinion,  for  either  house.  There  •  ";re 
enough  down  to  build  both.  As  for  hinwelf,  he  guessed 
lie  would  take  a  holiday.  And,  with  his  peculiar  chuckle, 
he  strolled  off,  rifle  on  shoulder. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  he  returned,  staggering  under  a 
queer  burden.  It  was  a  large  bundle,  apparently  wrapped 
in  dark  brown  fur. 

"  Thar !  "  said  Solomon,  still  chuckling.  "  Thar's  your 
glass  fer  the  winders  !  " 

Nat  would  not  be  satisfied  until  Solomon  explained 
himself.  The  backwoodsman  untied  the  folds  of  the  fur, 
which  proved  to  be  the  skin  of  a  good-sized  bear,  of  the 
now  familiar  brown  variety.  Inside  the  skin  was  a 
rather  u^^ savory-looking  mass  of  flesh  from  the  animal 
himself.  This  consisted  of  steaks,  skilfully  sliced  off  by 
Solomon,  and  a  pile  of  intestines. 

"What  on  earth  did  you  bring  that  home  for?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Dutton,  after  one  look  at  his  booty. 

"  You'll  see,  ma'am,  before  night." 

Solomon,  with  the  assistance  of  the  boys,  stretched  the 
hide  of  the  bear  on  the  inside  of  one  end  of  the  hut,  now 
nearly  completed.  Having  no  nails,  he  was  obliged  to 
drive  wooden  pegs  through  the  pelt.  He  then  proceeded 
to  thoroughly  clean  out  and  wash  the  intestines,  which 
he  next  cut  open,  and  stretched  to  their  utmost  across  the 


WINTER-q  UA  R  TERS. 


247 


logs,  as  he  had  the  larger  skin.  Within  a  week  they 
were  hard  and  dry,  and,  on  being  fastened  across  the  rude 
window  frames,  served  excellently  the  purpose  of  glass. 
This  he  had  learned  from  the  natives  of  Kamschatka, 
across  the  straits. 

Solomon  made  one  or  two  more  hunting  expeditions, 
and  brought  home  the  hides  of  several  black  and  brown 
bears,  and  one  grizzly.  The  claws  of  the  latter  he  saved, 
and  gave  to  Florence  for  a  necklace !  He  secured  and 
laid  up  at  the  same  time  a  plentiful  supply  of  tallow,  or 
"  bear's  grease,"  for  the  manufacture  of  candles,  and  vari- 
ous household  purposes. 

He  stretched  and  dried  a  dozen  or  more  sheets  of  intes- 
tine, telling  Mr.  Button  they  would  need  to  wear  them 
over  their  eyes  on  the  intensely  bright  days  of  spring, 
when  the  snow  was  on  the  ground  and  the  sun  high. 

Robert  took  every  opportunity  to  assist  in  purveying 
for  the  expedition,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  come 
upon  a  hillside  perfectly  honeycombed  with  marmots' 
burrows.  He  managed  to  snare  a  dozen  or  more  of 
these  little  animals,  and  preserve  their  skins,  from  which 
Solomon  promised  to  show  him  how  to  make  caps  and 
gloves.  A  couple  of  deer  and  a  large  moose  fell 
victims  to  Solomon's  unerring  aim,  and  their  pelts  were 
added  to  the  stock  which  was  accumulating  for  use  as 
coverlets. 

The  first  hut  was  now  roofed  over,  the  rafters  being 
shingled  with  long,  red-cedar  slabs,  which  were  riven  out 


248 


THE  liEB  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


;l! 


Hi  i 

WA 
u  I 


n 


by  Solomon  with  his  axe.     They  gave  a  delightful  fra- 
grance to  the  whole  hut. 

As  soon  as  the  ladies  could  sleep  indoors,  which  they 
did  with  great  delight,  their  tent  was  used  as  a  smoke- 
room,  and  dozens  of  brook  trout  and  grayling,  as  well  as 
shces  of  bear  meat  and  venison,  were  prepared  for  winter 
consumption.     Teddy  and  Nat  now  spent  all  their  time 
in  chinking  up  the  spaces  between  the  logs  with  moss. 
As  the  eaves  of  the  huts  were  not  over  six  feet  from  the 
ground,  this  was  easily  done,  although  it  was  a  long  and 
tedious  job.     Earth   and    moss  were  "banked"  against 
the  walls  on  the  outside  to  the  height  of  four  feet ;  while 
all  round  the  end  of  the   Dutton    hut,  where  the    beds 
were,  a  second  wall  was  made  by  laying  poles  up  against 
the  eaves  on  the  outside,  and  stuffing  the  space  between 
with  boughs  and  moss. 

The  chimneys  were  Solomon's  pride  and  joy.  Usino- 
clay  from  the  bed  of  the  brook,  he  stoned  up  the  sides  of 
the  fireplaces,  and  laid  tolerably  smooth  hearths.  But 
the  chimneys  were  built  entirely  of  small,  green  poplar 
sticks,  laid  crosswise,  and  plastered  inside  and  out  with 
all  the  clay  that  would  stick  on. 

Mrs.  Dutton  was  positive  that  her  chimney  would  burn 
up,  together  with  the  whole  hut,  when  the  first  fire  was 
built.  Solomon  assured  her,  however,  that  it  would  last 
throughout  the  winter  unharmed ;  and  the  result  showed 
that  he  was  right. 

A  double  door  was  made,  with  storm  entry  between. 


f«i! 


WINTER-QUARTERS. 


249 


The  idea  of  connecting  the  two  huts  was  given  up,  as 
liable  to  let  in  too  much  cold  through  the  cracks  and 
joints.  As  the  buildings  were  only  a  rod  apart,  the 
passageway  was  really  not  needed.  Matches  were  getting 
scarce,  and  a  fire  was  kept  constantly  alight  on  the 
hearth. 

To  understand  how  these  two  huts  could  bo  erected  in 
so  short  a  time,  it  must  be  remembered  tliat  live  full- 
grown  men,  three  strong,  healthy  boys  (besides  Nat,  whose 
nimble  fingers  were  of  great  assistance),  and  two  remark- 
ably capable  women,  worked  during  every  available  hour 
of  daylight.  Sundays  excepted,  for  five  weeks  before  the 
unfurnished,  bare  walls  were  completed.  Something  in 
the  way  of  tables  and  benches  had  to  be  provided  yet. 
These  Solomon  proposed  to  make  on  stormy  days. 

A  good  deal  of  anxiety  was  felt  about  Peeschee,  wlio 
was  now  two  weeks  overdue. 

On  the  morning  of  the  tenth  of  October,  the  first  of  the 
Buttons  who  opened  the  door  noticed  something  like  a 
white,  downy  feather  float  in  and  disappear.  Then  an- 
other, and  another.  Before  ten  o'clock  a  furious  snow- 
storm was  raging.  Flossie  was  worse  that  morning,  as 
we  learned  at  the  opening  of  this  chapter;  but  toward 
afternoon  she  grew  brighter,  and  took  a  great  interest  in 
the  reports  of  the  progress  of  the  storm.  She  was.  not 
told  of  the  anxiety  felt  by  all  concerning  Peeschee,  nor 
regarding  their  own  future. 

Deeper  and    deeper  fell    the  snow.     The  day  seemed 


250 


TUE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


hardly  three  hours  long.  As  night  came  on,  the  wind 
roared  and  howled  like  a  pack  of  wolves  about  the  little 
huts ;  while  the  flames  danced  up  the  chimney  and  threw 
their  red  light  over  the  rough  bark  of  the  logs,  the  rush 
mattings  on  the  floor,  and  the  faces  of  the  group  gathered 
around  the  hearth. 


lis 


r  I 


CHAPTER  XXII 


PEESCHEE  S   MARVELLOUS   STORY. 


IHE  nights  became  so  cold  during  the  month  of 
October  that  the  Buttons  found  they  must  hiy 
in  more  wood  for  their  winter's  supj^ly.  Accord- 
ingly, Solomon  once  more  shouldered  his  axe,  and  started 
for  the  woods.  There  was  one  member  of  the  company 
who  had  as  yet  done  no  work  at  all,  beyond  guarding  the 
property.  His  turn  had  now  come,  and  during  the  next 
week  his  labors  were  by  no  means  light.  Who  was  he  ? 
Come  with  me  this  clear,  cold  November  morning,  and 
take  a  view  of  the  encampment. 

In  one  of  the  huts,  Mrs.  Button  is  getting  breakfast, 
with  the  assistance  of  Chloe  and  Ted.  Already  a  dish  of 
venison  is  smoking  on  the  table,  which  is  built  of  slabs 
of  cedar,  rough-hewn  with  an  axe.  Benches  of  the  same 
manufacture  are  drawn  up  in  readiness  for  the  men  and 
boys,  who  are  just  now  in  the  otlier  hut,  putting  the  last 
touches  on  a  sort  of  sledge,  the  runners  of  which  are  stout 
young  saplings.  The  rest  of  the  sledge  is  of  cedar^  ren- 
dering it  both  light  and  strong.  Carlo  sits  on  his  haunches, 
and  regards  this  new  piece  of  furniture  gravely.  Well  he 
may,  for  it  is  destined  to  be  drawn  by  him.    Yes,  he  is  the 

'2ol 


252 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I  ' 


t 

■  i. 


I 


new  laborer,  and,  being  in  Alaska,  he  must  do  an  Alaskan 
dog's  work.  All  hands  are  now  summoned  to  breakfast. 
Flossie  takes  lier  place  with  the  rest,  and  begs  permission 
to  pour  the  tea.  Teacups  are  scarce,  yon  observe.  Tlie 
boys  have  one  large  tin  dipper  to  pass  round. 

Mr.  Button  bows  his  head  and  asks  a  l)lossing,  as 
gravely  as  if  he  were  in  his  own  luxurious  homo  in  Sliel- 
don.     Then  the  merry  hum  of  voices  and  laughter  begins. 

'•  Mamma,  Teddy  is  sure  ho  heard  a  bear  outside,  last 
night !  " 

"  Ho !  was  it  a  prickly  one,  Ted  ?  " 

"  Sure,  I  heard  him  shniff  at  the  door." 

''  What  would  a  b'ar  want  wid  a  do',  chile  ?     He  come 

down  de  chimbley  arter  you,  'f  ye  don'  look  out!  " 

"  Your  sledge  done,  Solomon  ?" 

"  Sartin  it  is,  ma'am.     An'  this  'ere  black  fellow  wishes 

he'd  gone  home  with  them  wuthless  Chilkats  — don't  ye 
Carlo?" 

Thump,  thump  on  the  floor,  with  a  shaggy  tail. 

•'  Mother,  please  give  me  some  more  currants  —  and  Nat 
would  like  a  little  apple  sauce." 

A  strange  request,  this  last,  you  think  ?  You  do  not 
know,  then,  that,  before  cold  w^eather  set  in,  Mrs.  Dutton 
gathered  several  quarts  of  wild  currants  near  the  camp, 
and  l)y  great  good-luck  discovered  a  little  natural  planta- 
tion of  crab-apple  trees,  such  as  grow  luxuriantly  in  the 
interior  of  this  great  territory.  The  currants  sbe  dried 
for  occasional  consumption;  the  apples  she  stored,  and 


'•  A    UlSll    UK    VKXISON    IS    SMOKIXG    ON    TilK   TABLli." 


■ 


hi 


■ 


pit 

M 


ii 

•  Mi 

t! '' 

III 

Hi 


PEESCHEE'S  MARVELLOUS  STORY. 


255 


brought  out  from  time  to  time,  in  various  appetizing 
shapes.  In  addition  to  these  fruits  of  the  land,  she  had 
collected  a  large  store  of  wild  onions,  to  serve  as  anti- 
scorbutics during  the  long  winter. 

One  more  article  had  been  gathered,  during  those  two 
or  three  days  of  uncertainty  wiien  the  party  knew  not 
whether  to  push  on,  retreat,  or  camp.  Peescliee  himself 
had  been  the  harvester,  this  time.  He  had  brought  in  a 
large  armful  of  a  plant  with  thick,  rough  leaves,  the 
under  side  being  covered  with  a  soft,  brown,  "  fuzzy  "  sub- 
stance. When  asked  what  it  was,  the  Fox  had  replied, 
laconically,  — 
'•  Tea." 

The  others  had  laughed,  and  paid  no  more  attention  to 
Peeschee's  harvest,  supposing  it  to  be  some  herb  of  medi- 
cinal qualities,  used  by  the  natives.  The  twigs  and  leaves 
were  carefully  preserved  and  dried  by  their  finder,  how- 
ever, and  were  now  hanging,  in  several  large  bunches,  to 
the  rafters  of  the  kitchen. 

To  return  to  the  Buttons'  jolly  breakfast  table.  There 
is  as  yet  but  little  daylight.  It  is  eight  o'clock,  and  the 
sun  is  not  above  the  mountain  tops  on  the  east.  The  little 
hut  is  lighted  by  two  lamps,  each  made  by  floating  a  wick 
in  a  dish  of  bear's  grease.  Solomon  had  been  aware,  when 
he  went  bear-hunting,  that  this  commodity  abounded,  in 
bears  at  just  that  season,  before  they  retired  to  their  dens 
and  hollow  trees  for  the  winter. 

A  faint,  yellowish  light  was  already  beginning  to  show 


25(5 


Tilt:  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


m 


throuu'li  tlic  windows,  whicli.  witli  tliuir  stretched  skins, 
looked  like  s(|uare  drnm-lieads.  wiien  the  men  arose  from 
tlie  lahle.  and.  wiiistlin.u^  to  Carlo,  prepared  foi"  a  day  of 
work.  IJoth  Itiehai'd  and  Solomon  had  seen  too  mnch  of 
liuniit  and  Msipiiinau  life  not  to  nnderstand  how  to 
harness  a  dou;  into  a  sledge.  Carlo  had.  indeed,  been  in 
trainiiiLi'  for  several  days,  nnder  the  snpervision  of  Nat. 
A  harness  had  been  made  for  the  Newfoundland,  from 
deer-skin  thongs,  and  the  dog  had  already  learned  to  draw 
a  buiTk'n  with  tolerable  steadiness.  Accordingly,  he 
trotted  smartly  along  over  the  crisp  four  or  five  inches  of 
snow,  toward  the  woods,  Solomon  and  the  rest  following 
with  axes. 

xVll  that  day  the  sound  of  chopping  rang  out.  Trees 
were  felled,  out  into  four-foot  lengths,  and  laid  on  the 
sledire.  a  dozen  sticks  at  a  time.  Carlo  pulled  lustilv,  and 
kept  bravely  to  the  work,  encouraged  by  Nat,  who  dr.>vp 
the  sledge,  loaded  and  unloaded  it. 

Favored  by  several  days  of  fair  weather,  this  method 
of  labor  was  kept  up  until  several  cords  of  firewood  woi 
piled  in  the  kitchen,  and  a  krge  heap  left  outside 
door.  It  should  be  added  that  much  of  the  cooking  wa** 
now  done  in  Mrs.  Button's  own  establi><liment.  It  had 
been  finally  decided  that  Richard.  Joe,  Jim,  Peeschee,  and 
all  the  boys  except  Nat,  should  occupy  the  other  building, 
sleeping  there,  and  doing  all  their  rough  work  beside  their 
own  fireside. 

Early  one  evening,  about  November  tenth,  there  was  a 


PKE/^rnEE'S  MARVELLOUS   STORY. 


•257 


sound  of  footsteps  outside  the  door.  Hugh  sprang  to  open 
it.  and  a(hnitted  —  Peesehee  !  Tlie  poor  fellow  was  hardly 
able  to  stand  from  hunger  and  exhaustion  ;  but  before  he 
would  toueh  a  morsel  of  food  he  drew  from  his  pouch  a 
handful  of  rocks,  and  handed  them  to  Mr.  Button,  not 
deigning  to  look  at  Solomon,  who  had  long  ago  repented 
of  his  hasty  words. 

They  all  clustered  around  the  specimens,  which  sparkled 
in  the  fiivlight  with  a  dull  red  glow.  Beyond  a  doubt, 
they  were  splendid  examples  of  the  ore  of  cinnabar. 

"  Hooray  for  you.  Fox  !  "  shouted  Solomon.  "  You've 
found  the  real  stufi',  sure.  Come  up  here  to  the  fire,  old 
fellow."  he  continued,  dragging  the  shivering  Indian  to 
the  hearth,  "  and  get  warm  before  you  speak  a  word.  I 
swan,  ni  feed  ye  mysel' ! "     And  he  did. 

Flossie  was  the  only  one  who  caught  the  gleam  of  a 
tear  in  the  eye  of  the  rough  hunter,  but  all  were  touched 
by  the  evident  attempt  of  Solomon  to  make  up  for  his 
past  harshness  and  unjust  suspicions. 

Peesehee  gravely  Held  o.:t  his  hand,  and  grasped  that 
of  Baronov,  in  token  of  foigiveness  ;  then  applied  himself 
voraciously  to  the  "  pemmican,"  or  smoked  and  chopped 
venison,  which  was  set  before  him. 

After  he  had  eaten  ard  eaten  until  Chloe  became  seri- 
ously alarmed  for  his  safety,  and  stood  gazing  at  himwith 
arms  akimbo,  and  the  whites  of  her  eyes  showing  as  she 
stared,  Peesehee  sat  down  on  the  floor  and  told  his  story. 
He  had  travelled  straight  on,  in  the  line  of  the  trail. 


258 


THE  RED    ilOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


'A 


4h 


,;i 


Pi 


i 


m 


for  two  days.  The^i  a  light  flurry  of  snov/  had  covered 
all  marks,  and  he  soon  found  himself  lost  in  a  region  of 
ice  and  snow.  He  had  struggled  on,  in  what  he  believed 
to  be  the  right  direction,  until  he  came  to  a  high  cliff, 
which  completely  blocked  his  way.  At  the  foot  of  this 
precipice  he  had  picked  up  his  specimens  of  cinnabar. 

Almost  fainting  from  cold,  exhaustion,  and  want  of 
food,  he  had  made  his  way  down  to  the  line  of  vegetation. 
There  he  managed  to  knock  over  a  partridge,  and  ate  it 
raw.  This  gave  him  strength  to  travel  for  a  day  or  two 
longer,  in  what  direction  he  knew  not.  While  wandering 
about  aimlessly,  he  came  upon  an  enormous  track  in  the 
moss,  sunk  to  the  depth  of  several  inches,  and  bigger  over 
than  a  barrel. 

"  Whew !  "  whistled  Dick,  incredulously,  under  his 
breath.  "  I  guess  our  friend  was  a  little  out  of  his 
head  !  " 

Peeschee  paid  no  attention  to  the  whisper,  or  the 
glances  that  were  exchanged  over  his  head,  but  continued 
gravely. 

On  the  fifth  day  after  leaving  the  glacial  regions,  he 
averred  that  he  actually  caught  sight  of  the  creature  that 
had  left  the  strange  tracks.  Peeschee  heard  the  animal 
crashing  through  the  bushes,  and  presently  there  came 
into  view  a  gigantic  quadruped,  covered  with  long  hairs, 
with  fearful  curving  tusks  of  a  yellowish,  shiny  appear- 
ance, a  mouth  big  enough  to  swallow  a  man  at  one 
gulp.     He   was  laiger    than    a    post-trader's   store,   said 


:• 


PEESCIIKE'S  MARVELLOUS  STORY. 


259 


» 


Peescliee,  and  altogether  so  frightful  to  behold  that  he, 
the  narrator,  fled  in  terror. 

Again  the  boys  nudged  each  other,  their  eyes  twinkling 
with  fun.  To  their  surprise,  however,  Solomon  looked 
grave,  and  stated  that,  on  the  whole,  he  believed  the 
Indian's  story. 

"  Let's  see  haow  the  critter  looked,  Peeschee,"  said  he, 
handing  him  a  charred  stick,  and  clearing  a  spot  on  the 
smooth  hearthstone. 

When  Peeschee  leaned  back  again,  there  was  a  rough 
drawing  on  the  stone. 

"  Why,  that  looks  like  an  elephant ! "  exclaimed  two 
or  three  at  once,  as  all  bent  eagerly  over  the  drawing. 

"  That's  jest  it ! "  said  Solomon,  who  had  eyed  the 
drawing  closely.  "I've  heerd  fur-hunters  tell  of  an 
animil  jest  like  an  elephant,  somewhars  in  the  interior, 
only  a  good  deal  bigger,  an'  covered  with  long  hair.* 
They  say  thar's  only  two  or  three  in  Alaska,  an'  nowhars 
else  in  the  world." 

"I  know,"  exclaimed  Robert,  suddenly.  "Whether 
it's  true  or  not,  the  animal  the  hunters  have  described, 
and  Peeschee  has  drawn,  is  the  Mammoth,  or  prehistoric 
hairy  elephant.  In  1800  the  body  of  one  of  them  was 
found  frozen  into  an  iceberg  in  Siberia,  and  the  bones  are 
in  the  Royal  Museum  now." 

"  Now  you  speak  of  it,  I  believe  I've  heard  the  same 
story  around   Wrangel,"    said   the   lieutenant.     "But   I 

•  See  in  recent  issue  of  Alaska  Free  Press  (Sitka)  and  Boston  Journal 
Oct.  28,  1887.  reports,  by  natives,  of  this  strange  animal. 


260 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


I  I 


I 


I 

It' 


filvvays  supposed  it  was  only  a  hunter's  yarn.  I  don  t 
know  why  there  may  not  be  a  few  of  those  big  fellows 
left,  though ! " 

The  idea  of  having  these  gigantic  neighbors  was  not  a 
pleasant  one,  and  the  women  were  glad  when  Peeschee 
was  allowed  to  resume  his  narrative. 

Shortly  after  running  away  from  the  Mammoth,  he 
said,  he  sprained  his  ankle  on  a  snow-covered  root,  and 
felt  that  he  could  go  no  further.  Making  one  final  effort, 
and  limping  painfully  along,  he  was  preparing  to  lie  down 
and  die  when  he  saw  smoke  arising  through  the  tree-tops. 
Pressing  on  once  more,  he  came  upon  a  small  collection 
of  wigwams,  containing  two  or  three  dozen  natives. 
They  proved  to  be  Ungaliks,  a  little  known  tribe  of  the 
interior,  with  whom  he  could  only  converse  with  signs. 
The  Indians  were  hospitable  and  kind  to  him ;  had  shel- 
tered, fed,  and  nursed  him,  as  the  Ayans  had  his  father 
in  years  gone  by ;  and  at  the  end  of  three  weeks  he  had 
been  able  to  continue  his  journey,  with  a  pouch  full  of 
dried  meat  and  salmon.  After  a  hard  journey  of  six 
days'  duration,  he  had  arrived  home. 

"  Home !  "  It  was  a  strange  word  to  apply  to  these 
two  lonely  little  huts  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness  of 
forest  and  ice ;  but  the  Buttons  felt  more  thankful  than 
ever  for  their  cosey  shelter,  as  they  heard  Peeschee's 
story. 


^ 


''J 

r 


CHAPTER  XXTII. 


CHRISTMAS    IN   ALASKA. 


> 


S  the  winter  wore  on,  all  the  members  cf  the 
expedition  found  that  their  clothes  were  becom- 
ing decidedly  the  worse  for  wear. 

"  Why  not  make  some  more  ?"  asked  Solomon. 

"No  cloth!" 

"  Humph !  A  whole  storeful  running  araound  the 
woods  on  four  legs  !  " 

Solomon  accordingly  took  Joe  and  Jim,  the  two  Cana- 
dian Indians,  and  started  off  for  a  two-days  hunt.  They 
returned  heavily  laden  with  pelts.  On  being  laid  out,  the 
furs  were  found  to  be  long  and  silky,  of  a  delicate,  Mal- 
tese blue  color. 

''  Blue  foxes,"  explained  the  hunter.  ''  "We  struck  a 
lot  of  'em  up  towards  the  maountings.  Lucky  we've  got 
plenty  o'  fish  an'  meat  stored  up  fer  winter,"  he  added, 
with  a  grave  shake  of  his  head.  '•  I've  never  seed  game 
so  scurce  in  my  life.  It's  my  l)eliof  that  that  'ere  big 
critter  Peeschee  saw  has  scared  'em  all  away.  IVars  is 
denned  up,  and  I  haven't  seen  a  sign  o'  deer  nor  moose 
pence  we  started." 

261 


m 


{^ 


I  <t 


,i 


n^\ 


f.  ; 


262 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


The  fox-skins  were  stretched  and  salted,  and,  as  soon  as 
they  were  dry  enough,  were  manufactured  into  garments. 
As  there  were  over  twenty  of  these  skins,  everybody  soon 
had  at  least  some  bit  of  blue  fox  about  his  person  —  and 
a  picturesque-looking  sight  they  were.  Flossie  fairly 
screamed  with  delight  when  they  first  met  at  table,  wear- 
ing their  new  clothing  of  blue,  silk\-  fur. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  the  davs  drao-ijed  somewhat 
wearily  along  through  November  and  December.  The 
sun  did  not  rise  until  about  half  past  nine  o'clock  ;  then 
it  hung,  sulky  and  red.  above  the  horizon  for  four  or  five 
hours  only,  and  by  tln-ee  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  it  was 
dark  enough  in  the  ill  lighted  huts  to  use  lamps  again. 
They  played  games,  told  stories,  and  even  started  a 
newspaper  on  birch  bark. 

The  snow  kept  oft'  marvellously,  lying  on  the  ground 
to  the  depth  of  only  about  ten  inches.  The  l)oys  hunted 
through  the  woods  neai-  Ijy.  l)ut,  as  Solomon  had  said,  game 
was  so  scarce  that  it  hardly  paid  for  the  tramp.  Many  a 
time  they  came  home  completely  empty-handed. 

One  morning  Flossie  had  an  inspiration.  Teddy  was 
the  unconscious  "  first  cause." 

''  Oh,  wirra !  "  said  he.  with  his  favorite  exclamation, 
and  a  comical  twist  to  his  face,  "  do  ye  remimber  the 
Christmas  we  had  last  year  as  iver  was,  at  Sheldon  ?  An' 
look  at  us  now  !  " 

"Why  not  have  Christmas  here?"  cried  Flossie,  with 
a  sudden  thought.     •*  What  day  is  it  now,  papa  ?  " 


\- 


CHRISTMAS   IN  ALASKA. 


2()H 


"  It  is  —  let  ine  see  —  Thursday,  December  tenth,"  said 
her  father,  consulting  his  calendar. 

"  Then,  Christmas  is  just  a  fortnight  from  to-morrow ! 
We  can  have  a  tree,  and  hang  up  evergreen,  and  have  a 
i^plendid  time  !     Why  not?" 

As  nobody  seemed  disposed  to  come  forward  with  any 
reason  '•  why  not,"  the  plan  was  eagerly  taken  up  by  all. 
The  three  Indians  had  no  idea  what  Christmas  meant,  and 
very  gravely  and  sweetly  Flossie  undertook  to  explain  to 
them  about  its  origin,  and  liow  dear  the  day  was  to  all 
the  world. 

As  she  told  the  story  of  Bethlehem,  reading  now 
and  then  from  her  little  Testament,  Solomon  joined 
the  group,  and  listened  with  bared  head  and  a  sober 
face. 

"Reminds  me  of  when  I  was  a  leetle  feller,"  he  said, 
when  Flossie  paused  at  the  end  of  a  chapter.  "  Seems 
ter  me  my  father  used  to  road  'baout  that  once,  Init 
I've   e'ena'most   fergotten   every   word   of   it.      Go   on. 


miss. 


The  Alaskans  themselves  hardly  comprehended  what  it 
was  all  about ;  but  something  of  the  young  girl's  devout 
spirit  must  have  made  itself  felt,  for  they  listened  eagerly, 
and  nodded  to  each  other  several  times,  and  were  evidently 
sorry  when  the  lesson  was  over. 

"  And  now."  concluded  Floss,  closing  her  book,  ''  it's 
going  to  be  His  birthday  next  week  —  Chrlstmns.  we  call 
it  —  and  everybody  ought  to  be  happy  on  that  day,  and 


2f)4 


THE  UFA)  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


make  everybody  else  luippy — and  we're  going  to  have 
just  as  good  a  time  as  we  can  —  there  !  " 

The  girl  jumped  up,  and  at  once  entered  into  profoundly 
secret  jilans  with  her  mother  and  Chloe,  relating  to  ever- 
green, candles,  ornaments   for  the  tree,  and  even  gifts, 
for  these  last  were  by  no   means  to  be  omitted.     Each 
of    the    family   was    occupied    in   manufacturing    some 
kind    of    a    surprise    for   the    rest,    and    the    time   went 
nmch    more    quickly.     On    the    twenty-fourth,  the    boys 
tramped    off    into   the    forest,   and  gathered    armfuls    of 
green  boughs,  as  well  as  a  lot  of  long,  gray  moss  with 
which    the    larger    trees    throughout    the    woods    ^vere 
draped.      These    boughs,   which   were    of   fir    and  cedar, 
were    tastefully    fastened    up    about    the    large    '-living- 
room,"  and  over  the  fireplace.     Peeschee  came  in  a  little 
after  the  others,  and  produced  several  clusters  of  scarlet 
wild-rose    hips,    which    "came    in    just    right    for   holly 
berries,"   Flossie  said. 

Before  long  the  whole  room  was  spicy  with  the  fra- 
grance of  the  boughs,  and  it  began  truly  to  seem  like 
Christmas.  Solomon  was  trusted  with  the  important  duty 
of  securing  the  tree,  which  he  fulfilled  to  a  charm,  leavino- 
it  out-of-doors  over  niirht. 

The  next  day  —  Christmas  —  what  glorious  weather! 
It  began  with  the  loveliest  of  rosy  skies,  slowly  growing 
to  bright  gold,  until  the  sun  itself  peeped  over  the  far- 
away mountains  of  ice.  and  sent  its  glad  beams  dan- 
cing down  to  the  little  clearing.     All  hands  were  up  in 


! 


CHIUSTMAS   IN  ALASKA. 


265 


good   season,    and    dressed   in   their    best   blue   fox    for 
the  day. 

Early  in  the  afternoon,  as  the  sun  sank  again  behind 
its  fir  draperies,  the  Christmas  tree  was  brought  in.  and 
set  up  near  the  fire.  The  boys  and  men  were  now  all  ban- 
ished to  their  own  quarters,  while  the  others  decked  the 
boughs  with  the  little  gayeties  they  had  prepared.  In 
the  first  place,  a  dozen  tiny  candles,  "  dipped  "  in  bear's 
grease,  were  fastened  on  with  pins.  Then,  some  of  Pees- 
chee's  rose-hips,  and  streamers  of  gray  moss,  were  added, 
and  a  lot  of  Mrs.  Button's  precious  crab-apples  hung  here 
and  there,  giving  a  really  gala  effect  to  the  whole. 
A  few  bits  of  bright-colored  ribbon  completed  the 
adornment  of  the  tree  —  but  not  its  mission ;  for  now 
the  gifts  were  placed  among  its  branches,  carefully 
labelled.  Flossie  clapped  her  hands,  and  fairly  danced 
about  it,  as  the  candles  were  lighted  and  blazed  up 
bravely. 

'•  Call  the  boys,  Chloe.  call  the  boys !  "  said  Mrs.  But- 
ton ;  and.  with  a  vast  deal  of  stamping  and  laughing,  in 
they  all  came.  A  splendid  fire  was  blazing  on  the  hearth, 
with  a  huge  "  Yule  Log  "  on  top.  sending  a  glorious  sheet 
of  red  flame  up  the  rude  chimney.  But  the  object  in  th  • 
room  was  the  tree  ! 

How  those  Indians  did  stare,  to  be  sure,  and  glance 
apprehensively  at  tho  ceiling,  to  be  sure  the  whole 
building  was  not  on  fire  !  Never  a  word  they  said,  how- 
ever, and  you  might  have  thought,  after  the  first  moment, 


266 


Tin:   HKD   MOUSTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


•1    . 


that  thoj'  had  been  accustomed  to  Christmas  trees  from 
thi'ir  childhood. 

Suddenly  a  strange-looking  being  came  out.from  behind 
a  clump  of  boughs  in  the  corner.  The  astonished  Mani- 
tobans  gave  one  involuntary  grunt  in  chorus,  and  then 
were  as  silent  as  before. 

It  was  apparently  a  little  old  man,  dressed  in  a  bear- 
skin, with  u  cai)  of  marmot,  and  a  blue-fox  tail  hanfinu- 
down  behind.  He  wore  a  mask  made  from  material  pro- 
vided by  Solomon's  brown  bear,  and  had  a  long,  gray 
beard  (of  moss). 

This  singular  creature  now  advanced  into  the  firelight, 
and  announced  himself  as  Santa  Glaus.  He  was  a  little 
late,  he  said,  because  his  reindeers  were  a  trifle  timid 
about  going  through  the  Chilkoot  pass,  and  had  sliied  at 
a  Mammoth  a  few  miles  away.  However,  he  had  arrived 
safely,  and  was  prepared  to  distribute  presents,  as  usual. 

Turning  to  the  tree,  he  proceeded  to  take  down  a 
really  beautiful  little  pair  of  snow-shoes,  about  one  half 
the  regular  size. 

"  The.se,"  said  Santa  Glaus,  "  are  for  Miss  Florence  Dut- 
ton.  They  were  manufactured  and  placed  in  my  hands 
for  lier  by  my  good  friend  Solomon.  '  May  she  live  long 
to  wear  'em.'  is  his  wish." 

Florence  examined  the  shoes  with  delight.  The  frames 
were  made  of  young  birch,  and  they  were  strung  with 
strong,  fine  sinews.  The  sockets  and  straps  were  of  mar- 
mot and  deer  skin. 


CnniSTMAS  I.\   ALASKA. 


267 


"Here  is  a  bow  and  arrow  for  Master  Nat,"  oontiniioil 
the  benevolont  .saint.  '•  Peesclieo,  tlie  Indian,  knows 
more  about  tlio  making  of  thcni  tlian  T  do." 

A  pair  of  deer-skin  slippcM-s.  witli  tlic  bair  on.  were 
next  discovered  and  announced  for  Uncle  Richard,  wlio 
tionu'liow  did  not  seem  to  bi-  present.  Tliey  were  laid 
aside  against  the  lieutenant's  return. 

Everybody  received  something,  even  Joe  and  Jim.  It 
was  wonderful  bow  swiftly  and  skilfully  the  nimble 
fingers  of  the  women  had  wrought  during  these  last  few 
days. 

Wlien  the  last  present  was  given,  and  the  candles  had 
burned  low.  Santa.  Claus  wished  all  a  good  night  and  a 
merry  Christmas,  and  went  out  through  the  door. 
Within  two  minutes  Uncle  Dick  appeared,  demanding, 
with  a  woful  face,  where  the  visitor  was,  —  and  /lad  he 
missed  seeing  him  while  he  was  just  taking  a  little  stroll 
for  his  health  ? 

That  the  device  was  so  transparent  only  tickled  the 
fancies  of  these  grown-up  people  the  more,  and  they 
laughed  as  heartily  as  children  over  the  lieutenant's 
fun. 

Chloe.  meanwhile,  had  called  into  play  all  her  culinary 
})owers,  and  now  invited  the  company  to  sit  down  to  a 
Christmas  dinner. 

Robert  and  his  uncle  had  put  their  heads  together,  the 
evening  before,  and  produced  with  great  solemnity  tlie  fol- 
lowing 


Hi 


i..f 


111! 


2<^8  i'BS  JiED  MOrXTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 

BILL   OF  FAKE. 

At  Button  Lodge    about  lat.  O.r  N.,  Ion.  144°  W.  from 

Greenwich. 

CIIKLSTMAS,   1869. 

r<)TA(iK. 

Rabbit,  il  I'eaii  chaude. 

FISH. 

►Salmon, /Mwte  0.  VAyan.  Broiled  Smoked  Grayling. 

FOWL. 

Eoast  Spruce  Tartridjijo,  Sauce  «  ht  Chloe. 

lii)AST. 

Venison,  aux  Otjnons  Saucat/es.  Bear,  u  V Alaska. 

KNTK^KS. 

Mountain  Pemraican.  More  Rabbit.  More  Bear. 

VKfiETABLES. 

Or.ions. 

KELI.SUE.S. 

Alaskan  Currant  Sauce.  More  A.  C.  Sauce. 

I'ASTKV. 

Grilled  Pilot-Biscuit. 

DESSEKT. 

North  American  C'rab-Apples,  au  naturel. 

This  inviting  bill,  which  was  printed  on  birch  bark, 
was  received  with  great  applause.  Mr.  Dution  ventured 
a  mild  doubt  as  to  the  French  rendering  of  "  wild " 
onions,  but  was  instantly  frowned  down  by  the  rest  of 
the  company.  The  rabbit  and  grouse  had  been  shot  a 
week  before,  and  kept  frozen  for  the  occasion.  The  Ind- 
ians, nay,  Solomon  himself,  had  scoured  the  woods  during 
the  intervening  period,  with  the  hope  of  procuring  more 
variety  for  the  grand  dinner,  but  had  failed  to  find  h 
living  creature. 


CIIIilsr.]/As    /.V   ALASKA. 


:iGl» 


The  long  evening  pa.ssL'd  incrrily  enough.  Hugh  began 
the  fun  by  reciting  a  fauiiliar  [)a.ssage  from  Dickens' 
"■  Carol,"  which  he  had  used  a  a  declamation  at  school; 
and  little  Nat  followini!;.  •• 'T  was  the  niu'ht  before  Clirist- 


■o* 


mas,"  from  beginning  to  end  without  a  stumble. 

The  lieutenant  was  now  called  on  for  a  story.  It  was 
evident  that  he  had  been  at  some  pains  at  preparing  the 
narrative  that  followed  ;  for,  although  he  pretended  to  be 
weaving  its  incidents  from  liis  l)rain  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment,  he  was  observed  to  glance  several  times  at  a 
small  slip  of  paper,  covered  will  pencilled  notes,  which 
he  held  in  his  hand. 

'•Let  me  see,"  said  he.  gravely,  looking  ibout  upon  the 
company,  and  giving  the  blazing  logs  a  kick  :  "  I  suppose 
it  must  be  a  Christmas  story?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  Well,  I'll  call  it 

"ax    echo    of    the    CHRISTMAS    CAROL."* 

It  was  at  precisely  eight  o'clock,  on  the  evening  of  the 
twenty-fourth  of  December,  that  Mr.  Broadstreet  yawned, 
glanced  at  the  clock,  closed  the  book  he  had  been  reading, 
and  stretched  himself  out  comfortably  in  his  smoking- 
chair  before  the  cannel  fire  which  snapped  and  rustled 
cosily  in  the  broad  grate.  The  book  was  "  Christmas 
Carol ;  "  and  the  reader,  familiar  as  he  was  with  its  pages, 
had  been  considerably  affected  by  that  portion  relating  to 

*  Flossie  and  lior  mother  afterward  were  at  some  pains  to  copy  the  story  out 
as  nearly  as  they  could  remember  it,  so  I  can  give  it  to  you  entire. 


270 


mi':  II Kh  MOiWTAiy  of  a  la  ska. 


If  I 


in 


il 


:«i 


I, 


'I'iiiy  Tim,  as  well  as  chuered  by  the  juyiul  notes  with 
wliich  the  (>arol  ends. 

For  some  minutes  he  sat  silently  surveying  the  pattern 
on  his  slippers,  and  apparently  working  it  out  again  on 
his  own  brow.  Now,  Mr.  IJroadstreet  was  not  a  man  to 
act  upon  impulse.  A  lawyer  in  large  and  profitable  prac- 
tice, and  a  shrewd  man  of  business  as  well,  he  was  never 
known  to  do,  say,  or  perhaps  even  decide,  anything  with- 
out deliberation. 

•'  Hold  on  a  bit,"  he  would  .say  to  an  eager  client  ; 
"  softly,  softly,  my  friend,  you're  too  fast  for  me.  Now, 
what  did  you  say  was  done  with  the  property  ?  "  and  so 
on  to  the  end  of  the  story.  If  there  was  any  money  in 
the  case,  Mr.  Broadstreet  was  pretty  sure  to  draw  it  out 
for  the  benefit  of  his  clients,  and,  remotely  of  course, 
himself. 

"  When  I  put  my  hand  down"  lie  was  fond  of  remark- 
mg,  with  significant  gesture  upon  the  office  desk,  "  I  never 
take  it  up  again  without  something  in  it." 

Tn  the  course  of  his  long  practice,  aided  by  a  series  of 
fortunate  speculations,  he  had  amassed  such  a  goodly  sum 
that  his  name  stood  near  the  head  of  the  list  of  "  Our 
Prominent  Tax-Payers."  He  drove  a  fine  span  of  horses, 
and  was  free  enough  with  his  money,  in  a  general  way. 
That  is.  when  some  large  philanthropic  movement  was  on 
foot,  Alonzo  M.  Broadstreet,  Esq.,  was  pretty  sure  to  be 
down  for  a  round  sum.  He  paid  his  share  in  church  and 
politics,  and  annually  sent  a  check  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 


VIIlilSTMAS  IN  ALASKA. 


271 


Missions.  He  made  a  rule,  however,  never  to  cncDuraire 
pauperism  by  promiscuous  alms-criving.  ami  never  tried  a 
case  or  gave  legal  advice  for  love.  Poor  pe()[)le  who 
called  at  his  otlice  for  assistance  always  found  liim  unac- 
countably busy,  and  street  beggars  liad  long  since  learned 
to  skip  his  door  on  their  morning  basket-visits. 

To-night  Mr.  Broadstreet  had  picked  n[)  the"(Jarol" 
m  a  specially  complacent  mood.  lie  had  spent  li!)erally 
in  Christmas  gifts  for  his  wife  and  children,  letting  him- 
self almost  defy  his  better  judgment  by  purchasing  for 
the  former  an  expensive  pin  she  had  seen  and  fancied  in 
a  shop  window  the  week  before.  Just  as  he  had  com- 
pleted the  bargain,  a  rescript  had  come  down  from  the 
Supreme  Court  affirming  judgment  in  his  favor,  on  a  case 
which  meant  at  least  a  five-thousand  dollar  fee. 

Notwithstanding  the  memory  of  this  recent  good-luck, 
he  continued,  on  this  particular  evening,  of  all  evenings 
in  the  year,  to  knit  hi  brows  and  give  unmistakable  evi- 
dence that  some  emotion  or  reflection  not  altogether 
pleasant  was  stirring  him  powerfully. 

"  Nonsense !  "  said  Mr.  Broadstreet,  presently,  half 
aloud,  as  if  he  were  addressing  some  one  in  the  centre  of 
the  glowing  coals.  '•  Nonsense ! "  he  repeated,  looking 
hard  at  a  grotesque,  carved  figure  that  supported  the 
mantel :  "  I'm  7iot  like  Scrooge.  I  give  freely,  and  I  spend 
freely.  That  fire  don't  look  much  like  the  one  old  Scrooge 
warmed  his  gruel  over,  does  it  now  ?" 

The  marble  figure  making  no  answer  to  this  appeal, 


272 


THE   llEl)   MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


■^^' 


U 


Ih 


but  foiitimiiiiu"  his  stony  ^jaze,  Mr.  Brojidstroet  shifted  liis 
position  auaiii  uneasily.  "Don't  I  give  away  hundreds 
ol"  dollai's  every  year  tu  the  societies,  and  liaven't  1  left 
them  a  lonnd  Ten  Thuu.sand  in  my  will '.'  Won't  soniehody 
mourn  for  nif.  eli  V 

lint  th<-'  cai'ved  lijis  re])lie(l  never  a  word,  only  si'eminu' 
to  eiu'l  sliu'litly.  as  the  tireliuht  played  upon  them,  thereby 
a.ssumiuL^  such  an  unph'asantly  .scornful  expression  that 
Mr.  Ih'oailstreet  began  to  feel  more  uncomfortaljle  than 
*;ver. 

Rising  hastilv  from  his  chair,  and  throwing  the  book 
down  u])on  tlu*  tal)le.  he  walked  on  to  tlu  window.  rul)bed 
a  little  place  clear  upon  the  frosty  pane,  and  looked  out. 

The  niLilit  was  Lrloomv  enoui'h  to  make  the  plainest  of 
homes  seem  clieerv  bv  contrast.  Since  morning,  the  skies 
had  been  dully  gray  ;  so  that  every  one  who  went  out  wore 
arctics  and  idster.  and  was  provoked  because  no  storm 
came.  At  about  the  time  when  the  sun  might  be  sup- 
posed to  be  setting,  .somewliere  behind  that  dismal  wall  of 
clouds,  a  few  tin  v.  shiverinir  flakes  had  come  floating  down 
or  up.  one  could  hardly  tell  which,  and  had  mingled  with 
the  dust  that,  driven  by  the  biting  wind,  had  filled  tlu^ 
air,  and  piled  itself  in  little  ridges  along  the  sidewalk,  and 
blinded  the  eyes  of  men  and  beasts  throughout  the  dreary 
day.  Before  long,  the  snow  overcame  the  low-born  friend 
with  whom  it  had  at  first  treacherously  allied  itself,  laid 
it  prostrate  on  the  earth,  and,  calling  in  all  its  forces,  rioted 
yictoriously  over  the  field.    The  storm  now  took  full  posses- 


ClflilSTMAs   /.V   ALASKA. 


■27:\ 


sion  of  the  ritv.  wliiteiiiiig  roofs  and  pavements,  inullliiii;- 
every  footfall  and  wheel-rattle,  iillino:  the  streets  np  to 
their  slaty  hrims  witli  whirling  mists  of  sleety  snow,  and 
roaring  fnrion/.v  through  the  tree-tops  and  around  eor- 
ners.  As  Mr.  iiroadstreet  gazed  through  his  frosty  looj)- 
hole.  with  mind  full  of  the  story  iie  had  just  linished.  he 
fancied  he  could  discern  the  shadowy  forms  of  old  Marlev 
and  his  fellow-ghosts  moaning  and  wringing  their  hands 
as  they  swept  past  in  trailing  white  robes. 

He    turned    away   with  ;i    lialf-sliiver.  and    once    more 
ensconced  himself  in  his  warm  easy-chair,  taking  up  the 
Carol  as  he  did  so.  and  tui-ning   its  leaves  carelessly  until 
he  came  to  a  picture  of  the  (ihost  of  Christmas  Present. 
It  was  wonderfully  well  drawn,  following  the  te.\t  with 
great  care,  and  hitting  off  the  idea  of  the  jovial,  holh- 
crowned  spirit  to  the  very  life.      An<l  then  the  hea[)  of 
good   tilings  that  lay  in  generous  piles  ahout  the  room! 
Mr.  Broadstivet  could  almost  catch  a  whiff  of  fragrance 
Irom   the   tin-kiys  and  gee.se  and  spicy  houghs.     Indeed, 
so  strong  was  the  illusion  that  he  involuntarily  glanced 
over  his  shoulder  at  the  marhle-topped  table  near  by.  half 
expecting  to  see  an  annetizing  di.sh  of  eatables  at  his  side. 
No  one  had  entered,  however,  and  the  table  Avas  as  usual, 
with  only  its  albiun  and   gilt-mounted   screen.  Ilaid<ed   by 
a  few  book.s  that  were  too  choice  to  be   hidden  away  on 
the  library  shelves.     When  he  looked  buck  at  the  picture 
in  the  book,  he  started  and  rubbed  liis  eyes.     He  thought 
—  but  it  could  not  have  been  possible  —  that  the  central 


274 


TIIK  RED  MOUyTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


,Ji! 


|i. : 


figure  on  tlie  page  moved  sliglitlv  :  and  he  was  positive 
that  one  of  the  Ghost's  arms,  in  tlic  engraving,  liad  been 
raised,  wliile  now  l)ot]i  were  at  his  side. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  turned  l)ack  the  leaf  with  some  misgiv- 
ing, and  U)oked  carefully  behind  it.  Nothing  but  blank 
white  paper. 

'•  How,"  nmttered  Mr.  Broadstreet  to  himself,  "  a  man's 
fancy  does  play  strange  tricks  witli  —  ITalloo  !  " 

lU'  was  once  more  glancing  at  die  picture,  when  the 
jolly  Ghost  gave  him  an  unmistakal)lc  wink. 

To  say  that  the  lawyer  started,  was  astonished,  struck 
tlumb.  —  would  l)e  mild.  He  sat  staring  at  tlie  page,  not 
wiiolly  believing  his  own  eyes,  and  yet  not  liking  to  look 
upon  such  a  —  to  say  the  least  —  [)eculiar  picture. 

Wliile  he  was  in  this  bewildered  state  of  mind,  a  rich, 
jovial  voice  was  heard,  apparently  proceeding  from  a 
great  distance,  and  at  the  same  time  dirt^ctly  froiii  the 
book  he  held  in  his  h;ind  ;  and  —  yes,  no  doubt  about  it 
—  the  Ghost's  bearded  lips  were  moving. 

••Well?"  said  the  Ghost,  still  seeming  very,  very 
far  oif. 

•'•  Well,  sir  ?  "  stammered  Mr.  Broadstreet,  in  return. 

•"You  see,  I'm  not  dead  yet,  although  some  of  your 
good  people  on  this  side  of  the  water  pay  precious  little 
attention  to  me." 

■•  Why,  really."  said  Mr.  Broadstreet,  instinctively  argu- 
ing the  opposite  side  of  the  question,  "  as  to  that,  I'm  not 
so    sure.     Take    Christmas  cards,  now.     Five  years  ago 


CHIilsr.\[A  S    ly   A  L .  1  SKA. 


27.5 


»r 


they  were  luiknowu  ;  now  they're  as  eommoii  us  valeu- 
tiiies." 

''  Oh,  yes."  replied  tlie  Gliosl .  '•  I  know.  You  see,  I 
have  my  room  pretty  well  deeoratefl  with  them." 

The  lawyer  scrutinized  the  haekground  of  the  picture 
more  clearly,  and.  sure  enough,  the  walls  were  covered 
with  what  at  iirst  seemed  a  rich  sort  of  illuminated  paper, 
but  proved  to  be  composed  entirely  of  ('hristmas  cards, 
many  of  which  he  had  never  seen.  Kven  in  the  momen- 
tary glance  he  gave,  he  observed  that  those  which  had 
taken  prizes,  and  had  been  most  largely  advertised  dui'inj'- 
the  past  few  winters,  were  tucked  away  in  obscure  cor- 
ners, while  several  which  were  exceeding! v  simple  in 
design  and  text  occupied  the  most  prominent  ])ositions. 

"  Yes,"  the  Ghost  went  on,  ••  the  cards  are  well  enough 
in  their  way,  and  so  are  tlie  other  displays  and  festivities 
of  the  day.  But  it  is  ihe  spii-it  of  (^nistmas  tiiat  you 
need.  Charity,  charity  in  its  good  old  si-nse  :  open  heai'ts 
and  kind  deeds,  with  less  thought  of  self-pleasing.  While 
these  dainty  little  gifts  are  being  mamifacitured.  ])ui-- 
chased,  sent,  and  thrown  away,  hundreds  of  peoi)le  are  at 
starvation's  door  in  your  own  city  ;  th(jusands  of  people 
know  little  or  nothing  of  the  real  meaning  of  the  day 
and  of  its  foundei-." 

As  the  Ghost  spoke,  its  voice  seemed  to  come  nearer, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  book  grew  so  large  and  heavy 
that  Mr.  l>roadstreet  was  fain  to  set  it  down  u])on  the 
carpet.       He    no    longer    feared    the    Ghost,    nor    did    it 


270 


Till':  RED  MOrSTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


m 


i» 


.1 

5M 


1^ 


seeiri  strange  that  it  should  oonverso  witli  him  in  this 
luannei'. 

"  Wlicroin  are  we  deficient  ?  "  he  asked,  eao-erlv.  "  Or 
what  more  can  we  do?  The  cliaritable  institutions  of 
Boston  are  among  the  best  in  the  world,  the  sky  is  full  of 
her  church-steeples,  her  polic(!  and  missionary  forces  are 
vigilant  and  effective  in  their  work." 

The  Ghost  of  Christmas  Present  gave  a  toss  to  his  Ions 
hair  and  beard. 

"  Tlow  nnich  have  you  done  to  carry  the  spirit  of 
Christmas-tide  beyond  your  own  threshold?  Who  in 
this  great  city  will  cherish  the  day  and  love  it  more 
dearl}^  for  your  warm  human  friendship  and  kindly  act, 
until  it  symbolizes  to  them  whatever  is  purest  and  merri- 
est and  holiest  in  life  ?" 

Tlie  (J host's  voice,  now  grown  very  near,  was  rather 
sad  than  stern,  and  its  eyes  were  fixed  intently  upon  Mr. 
Broadstreet's  face. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  hesitated.  With  ci'oss-examination  he 
was  familiar  enough,  but  he  did  not  relish  the  part  of  wit- 
ness. So  confused  was  he  that  he  hardly  noticed  that 
book  and  picture  were  r.ow  so  large  that  they  quite  filled 
the  eiid  of  the  room  in  which  he  was  sitting,  and  seemed 
like  another  apartment  opening  out  of  his  own. 

"I  —  I  —  hardly  know."  he  stannuered.  "  Really,  I've 
spent  a  good  deal  of  money  ;  my  Christmas  bills  are 
always  tremendous,  but  I  suppose  it's  mostly  in  the 
family." 


en  HIS  TMA  S   I.\    ALA  SKA. 


277 


''Mind,"  mternii)te(l  tlie  (Ihost,  almost  sliarply,  '•  I 
don't  say  anything  against  the  good  cliciM'  and  nu'rriincnt 
at  home.  But  tliere  are  many  homes  witliiii  a  stone's 
throw  of  yonr  chair  wliere  there  will  he  no  line  dinner, 
no  presents,  no  meeting  of  friends,  no  tree.  —  nothing  hut 
anxiety  and  doulit  and  despair.  Your  dressing-gown 
would  provide  for  several  of  them." 

Ml".  Hroadstreet  looked  meekly  at  the  emhroidery  upon 
his  sleeves. 

'•  What  would  vou  have  me  do?"  he  asked. 

-'  Do  you  desire  to  perform  ^'our  part  toward  making 
the  morrow  hright  for  some  one  who  otherwise  woiUd  lind 
it  all  clouds  ?  Do  you  wish  to  jilant  seeds  of  love  and 
merey  and  tenderness  in  some  heart  that  has  heretofore 
borne  only  thistles?  To  bring  a  smih;  to  some  wtsiry 
face,  warmth  to  .shivering  limbs,  light  and  hope  to  dreary 
lives  ? ' 

"  I  do !  T  do  !  "  exclaimed  the  rich  man,  eagerly  start- 
ing u])  from  his  chair. 

*•  And  are  vou  readv  to  sacriiice  your  ease  and  com- 
fort,  this  stormy  night,  for  such  as  them  ?  " 

Mr.  Broadstreet  seized  his  fur  cap  and  ulster  from  the 
ra<^k  in  the  hall.  "  Try  me  !  "  hu  cried.  '•  I'm  reaiiy  for 
anvthin-j-I  " 

The  (Jhost  smiled  pleasantly  m^-kn  hhn,  at  the  s.une 
tinje  seeming  to  lift  its  hand  inxoluntarily,  as  in  blessing. 
Then  he  spoke  for  the  last  time. 

'•  Hitherto  vou    have    known   only  the  bridit  side  of 


278 


THE   lli:i)   MOV  STAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


h 


m 

t 


i  i 


f  v.  r^ 


Christinas,"  it  s[iid,  gently.  "  It  has  been  full  of  joy  to 
you  and  yours.  J>ut  there  are  those  among  your  fellow- 
creatures —  nav.  ainon;''  your  very  ntiiii'hhors  —  who  dwell 
in  such  continued  misery  that  when  Christmas  conies  it 
hut  reminds  them  of  their  unhappy  state,  and  by  its 
;'xcess  of  light  upon  others  deepens  the  gloom  about  them- 
selves. This  is  the  Shadow  of  (^hristmas  Present,  and  it 
falls  heavily  upon  many  a  heart  and  many  a  household 
where  the  dav.  with  its  uood  (theer  and  blessed  associa- 
tions,  should  bring  naught  but  delight."  Tlu;  kind 
Si)irit's  voice  wavered  sliii-htlv.  '"  1  mvself  can  do  but 
little  to  dispel  this  shadow.  It  grieves  me  sorely,  year  by 
year,  but  it  remains,  and  I  fear  I  but  make  it  worse,  with 
my  blutt"  ways  and  keen  winter  breezes.  It  is  for  tho.se 
who  love  me  most  to  carry  such  light  and  comfort  to 
those  upon  whom  it  rests  that  it  shall  be  banished,  never 
to  return.  The  shadow  grows  less  year  bv  vear.  but  it  is 
still  broad,  broad." 

The  Ghost  was  silent  a  moment.  It  beckoned  to  the 
other,  and  motioned  to  him  to  step  behind  it.  ••  In  my 
shadow  you  shall  move  to-night,"  it  concluded,  in  a 
firmer  voice.  ''  It  shall  accompany  you  wherevei-  you 
go.  and  vourwork  shall  l)e  to  turn  it  awa\-  with  whatever 
kind  deeds  your  hand  shall  liud  to  do.  or  I'heering  words 
you  may  \\\x\v.  the  power  to  speak." 

It  said  no  more.  Mr.  Broad.street,  who  when  a  child 
had  often  longed  to  ])eep  b(>hiud  a  picture,  foinid  himself 
actually    fulfilling   his    wi.sh.      As    he    drew    nearer    the 


* 


CIlIilSTMAS   ly   ALASKA. 


279 


printed  i)age,  lie  lic-n-d  a  dull  roar,  like  surf  boating  upon 
a  rocky  coast.  IIo  advanced  farther.  j)icking  liis  way 
around  the  pile  of  poultry  and  vegetables  and  glistening 
holly  upon  which  the  Ghost  sat  enthroned.  A  moment 
more  and  the  room  vanished  in  utter  blackness  of  night  ; 
the  roar  grew  grander  and  deeper,  until  it  throbbed  in 
his  ears  like  the  diapason  of  a  njighty  oigau  :  a  lierce 
blast  of  snow-laden  wind  struck  his  bewildered  face;  the 
streeu-lamp  upon  the  corner  ilickered  feebly  in  a  mist  of 
Hakes  —  he  was  standing  before  his  own  door,  knee-deep 
in  a  snow-drift,  and  butfeted  above,  below,  and  on  every 
side  by  the  storm  that  was  abroad  that  Christmas  Eve. 

At  this  point  in  the  lieutenant's  story.  Mr.  Dutton 
suddenly  raised  his  hand  and  turned  his  head  slightly 
towards  the  door. 

His  face  wore  an  'expression  of  keen  anxiety. 

Everybody  was  silent,  ILstening  intently. 


h 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


THE    lieutenant's    «T(JKY    CONCLI'DED. 


h 


III  FA'  Mr.  Diitton.  the  coolest  and  most  self-pos- 
>'sse(l  Mieniher  ol"  the  party,  liad  so  unexpectedly 
intenni)ted  his  hrother.  and  assumed  a  listening 
attitude,  with  an  undonhted  look  of  ai)prehension  toward 
the  U)\\  door,  the  rest  could  not  resist  a  <:radually  increas- 
ing sensation  of  dread.  What  had  their  K'ader  heard  that 
causi'd  hiiu  such  uneon<*ealed  alarm  ? 

As  the}-  listened,  the  wind,  whicli  seemed  to  he  risincr. 
gave  utterance  to  a  long,  low.  and  sad  moan  around  the 
corner  of  the  Imt. 

Mr.  Dutton  at  once  resumed  his  former  easy  position, 
with  a  long  hreath  of  relief. 

'•1  helieve  I'm  uetting  nervous,"  said  he,  with  a  short 
laugh      ••  ( ;<)  on  with  your  story,  Dick." 

••  I  thought  I  heard  somehody  calling  just  now,  away 
off  in  tile  woods,"  said  Nat ;  -  hut  I  guess  'twas  ftnly  the 
wind." 

Mr.  Dutton  glanced  sliarply  at  the  hoy  and  at  Solonnm, 
ni.M.ting  the  hitter's  eyes  for  an  instant.  Neither  of  them 
spoke,  however,  and  the  story-telh.M*  proceeded  with  the 
strange  adventures  of  Mr.  JJroadstreet. 


Tin:  i.n:rTK.\A.\Ts  srouy  coscu  nuit. 


281 


As  >>()ui)  as  Mr.  Pn'oadstrtrt  n'coNci'cil  hiiiiM'ir,  aiul 
cl<'ar('(l  liis  cyrs  iVoiu  tlir  hliiulinu^  snow,  lir  saw  a  licavv, 
Ijlack  shadow  on  tlic  sidewalk,  I'lividopiiii:;  liis  own  pt'isuu 
and  ivstin*:;  upon  tliu  lij^'uri'  oi  a  man  wlio  had  ('\idt'ntly 
just  sholtorod  hinisclf  hcliind  tin-  liii^di.  stono  strps.  for  his 
footprints,  loading  from  the  street,  wert^  still  (juiie  fresh. 
As  the  man  thrashed  his  arms,  and  stamped  \  iuorously  to 
start  the  hlood  thronuh  his  henumlx'd  feet,  a  hri,L:,ht 
button  or  two  ^L'ieamed  upon  his  hreast  thronjiii  the  cape 
of  his  great-eoat.  Mr.  liroadstreet  now  reeogni/ed  him 
as  the  polieeman  whos(!  heat  it  was,  and  whom  he  had 
occasionally  favored  with  a  eonde.seending  nod  as  he  came 
home  late  at  night  from  the  theatre  or  the  elui).  lie  had 
never  addi'essed  him  by  .so  much  as  a  word;  hut  now  the 
Shadow  was  full  upon  him.  and  Mr.  liroadstreet  lelt  that 
here  was  his  lirst  opportunity. 

'•  (iood-evening.  ollieer  I  "  he  shouted,  cheerily.  thrt)ugli 
the  storm.     '■  Wish  you  a  merry  Christmas  to-morrow." 

'•Thank  you,  sir;  ."^ame  to  you."  replied  the  other, 
with  a  touch  of  the  cap  and  a  plea.sed  glance  at 
the  great  man.  ••  Hard  times  for  the  boys  to-night, 
though." 

"  It  is  hard,"  said  Mr.  Broadstreet,  compassionately. 
'•And  y(ju"re  rather  cold.  1  suppose?"  he  added,  awk- 
wardly, after  a  pause. 

-  Rather!" 

"Why.  bless  mo!"  a  bright  thought  striking  him, 
"  wouldn't  you  like  a  cup  of  hot  coil'ee,  now  ?" 


•J«2 


'////•;   11  hi)   MOlMAiy   OF  ALASKA. 


h 


M 


TIm-  (.irnMT  looked  iij)  auaiii  siirpiised.  '•  I  would  that, 
^ii\  lirst-r.itc."  hi'  ;m.>\V('r('(l.  heartily. 

Mr.  IJioadstreet  stepped  to  the  side  door  and  pressed 
the  elect rie  -Ivnol). 

"(Jive  this  man  a  <r(.od  euj)  of  eolTee."  he  said  to  the 
j^irl  wlio  answered  the  hell.  -And.  oHieer,  huv  the  i'olks 
;it  home  a  trille  for  nie  ;  Christmas,  you  know."  As  he 
spokr.  he  put  a  hiu;  silver  dojlai-  int(»  the  astonished 
policeman's  hand,  and  at  the  same  time  the  Siiadow  van- 
ished, leavin.i;  the  li^ht  from  the  hriuht.  warm  hall  fallin-r 
fairly  upon  the  snow-covered  cip  and  buttons. 

A  nuillled  roll  and  jin.ulinu'  of  U-lls  made  themselves 
heard  above  the  wind,  and  a  horse-car  came  lahorinir 
down  the  street  through  the  heavy  drifts.  Mr.  Jiroad- 
street.  without  a  thought  as  to  the  destination  of  the  car, 
hut  impelled  by  some  unseen  force.  claml)ered  upon  the 
rear  jilatform.  The  conductor  was  standing  like  a  .snow- 
man, covered  with  white  from  head  to  foot,  collar  up 
around  his  ears,  and  hands  deep  in  his  ])ockets.  And 
the  Shadow  was  there  again.  IJroad  and  gloomy,  it  .sur- 
rounded both  conductor  and  passenger  in  its  bleak  folds. 

'•  Tough  night,  sir."  remarked  the  former,  presently. 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  it  is.  indeed."  replied  Mr.  Broadstreet,  who 
was  thiiddng  what  in  the  world  he  could  give  this  man 
except  money.     ''  And  Chi-istmas  Eve.  too  !  " 

"  That's  a  fact."  .said  the  conductor.  '•  Ju.st  the  luck 
of  it.  1  say.  Now.  to-morrow  I  get  four  hours'  lay-off  in 
the  afternoon  ;  and  my  wife,  she  was  planning  to  take  the 


rnK  UKriKXAXTs  srouv  roxci.rinnh 


283 


cliildicii  and  jjo  to  tlic  plav.  Hut  tlicv'rc  iioiif  ol"  Cm 
ovor-strong.  and  t won't  do  to  take  "em  out  in  tliks  .snow, 
liosides,  like 's  not.  'twill  storm  all  day." 

'•Children?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hroadstreet,  seeing  away 
out  of  his  diinculty  ;   "  how  many  ?  " 

'•  Two  _<:;irls  and  a  hoy,  all  undei-  seven." 

"  Got  any  Christmas  pre.sents  for  them  ?  —  don't  mind 
my  asking." 

"Well,  I'd  just  's  lief  show  you  what  I  hare  got. 
'Tain't  nuieh.  you  know,  hut  then  it's  soiin  fliiii'."' 

He  stepped  inside  the  door,  laid  aside  his  snowy  mit- 
tens, and,  taking  from  the  eorner  of  the  seat  a  small, 
hrown  i)arcel,  carefully  removed  the  string  and  wrap- 
pings. 

"  There  !  "  he  said,  with  a  .sort  of  pleading  i)ride  in  his 
eyes.  '*  I  guess  the.se'll  please 'em  .some.  "Tain't  nmch, 
you  know,"  he  added  again,  glancing  at  his  pa.ssenger's 
fur  cap.  as  he  displayed  the  pre.sents  on  the  car-.seat. 

A  very  red-cheeked  and  hlue-eyed  doll,  with  a  placid 
countenance  quite  out  of  kee])ing  with  her  arms;  these 
memhers  heing  .so  constructed  as  to  occui)v  oidv  two 
positions,  o\u)  of  which  expressed  unhounded  astonish- 
ment, and  the  other  gloomy  resignation  ;  — a  transparent 
slate,  with  a  dim  cow  under  the  glass,  and  ''  15  cts." 
plainly  marked  in  lead-pencil  on  one  corner  of  thw  frame  ; 
—  and  a  rattle  for  the  girl  haby. 

As  the  conductor  held  up  these  articles  in  his  stiff,  red 
fingers,  turning  the  doll  about  .so  as  to  show  her  flaxen 


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TJIK  IlEI)  MOryTALX  OF  ALASKA. 


braid  to  tlie  best  advantage,  and  inducing  the  arms  to 
take  tile  positions  alluded  to,  tlie  Shadow  crept  away, 
and  had  well-nigii  disappeared.  But  it  returned  again, 
thicker  than  ever,  when  he  said,  witli  a  little  choke  in 
his  voice,  "  I  did  mean  to  get  'em  a  little  tree,  with 
candles  on  it,  and  a  picture-book  or  two  ;  but  our  pay 
ain't  over-much,  and  we  had  sickness,  and  — and  — "  he 
was  very  busy  doing  up  the  bundle,  and  very  clumsy  he 
must  have  been,  too,  for  it  was  a  long  time  before  the 
wide-looped,  single  bow-knot  was  tied,  and  the  parcel 
carefully  })ut  away  again. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  winked  hard,  and  his  eyes  shone. 

"  How  long  before  you  pass  here  on  the  way  back  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  About  thirty-five  minutes  it'll  take  us  to  get  round, 
sir.  on  account  of  the  snow.     It's  my  last  trip." 

'•  Very  well.     Now,  conductor  —  ahem  !  what  did  you 
say  your  name  was  ?  " 

"  Tryson,  sir  ;  David  Tryson." 

•■  Then,  ahem  !  Mr.  Tryson  —  just  ring  your  bell  when 
you  reiuih  the  corner  there,  on  the  up  trip  ;  and  dodge 
into  that  store  where  the  lights  are.  You'll  find  a  bun- 
dle waiting  for  you.  Good-night,  cond  — Mr.  Tryson, 
and  a  merry  Christmas  to  you  and  yours  !  " 

'•  Good-night,  sir !  God  bless  you,  sir !  Merry  —  "  but 
his  passenger  was  gone. 

As  he  reached  the  sidewalk,  Mr.  Broadstreet  turned 
and  looked  after  the  car.     Whether  it  was  the  li^rht  from 


Uu 


THE   LIKVTENAXVS    STORY  COXCLV l>i:iK 


1^8-) 


the  street  lamp,  or  the  broad  Hood  of  radiance  that 
poured  out  from  the  windows  of  the  toy-sho})  just  heyoud. 
lie  could  not  tell  ;  but  the  rear  platforui  was  illuminated 
by  a  ])ure,  steady  glow,  in  the  very  centre  of  which  stood 
the  conductor,  smiling,  and  waving  his  hand.  No  sign  of 
a  Shadow  ;  not  a  bit  of  it.  Mr.  liroadstreet  looked  care- 
fully about  him,  but  it  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Kvcii 
the  snow,  which  all  this  time  continued  to  fall  without 
interruption,  .seemed  to  fill  the  air  with  tiny  lamps  of 
soft  light. 

Ah.  that  toy-shop!  Such  heaps  of  blocks,  and  mar- 
bles, and  sleds  ;  such  dolls  with  eyes  that  would  wink 
upside  down,  exactly  like  a  hen's  ;  such  troops  of  horses 
and  caravans  of  teams  ;  such  jangling  of  toy  i)ianos.  and 
tooting  of  toy  horns,  and  shrieking  of  toy  whistles  (these 
instruments  being  anxiously  tested  by  portly  papas  and 
mammas,  apparently  to  be  sure  of  a  good  bargain,  but 
rea.lly  for  the  fun  of  the  thing) ;  such  crowds  of  good- 
natured  people,  carryhig  canes  and  drums  and  hoop-sticks 
under  their  arms,  taking  and  giving  thrusts  of  these  arti- 
cles, and  being  constantly  pushed  and  pulled  and  jammed 
and  trodden  upon  with  the  most  delightful  good-humor ; 
such  rows  of  pretty  girls  behind  the  counters,  now  climl)- 
ing  to  the  summits  of  Ararats,  where  innumerable  Noah'.s- 
Arks  of  all  sizes  had  been  stranded,  —  all  the.se  girls  being 
completely  used  up  with  the  day's  work,  of  course,  but 
more  cheerful  and  willing  than  ever,  bless  them !  such 
scamperings  to  and  fro  of  cash-boys,  and  diving  into  the 


« 


280 


THE   liKI)   MOlWTAjy    OF  ALASKA. 


l\  l> 


X 


iij. 


U' 


crowd,  and  emergings  in  utterly  unexpected  places, — 
were  never  seen  before  in  this  quiet  old  city. 

Mr.  Bioad.street  embarked  on  the  current,  and,  with  an 
unconsciously  benevolent  smile  on  his  round  face,  was 
l)orne  half-way  down  the  store  before  he  could  make  fast 
to  a  counter. 

■•  What  can  I  do  for  you,  sir  ? "  If  the  girlish  voice 
was  brisk  and  business-like,  it  was.  at  the  same  time, 
undeniably  pleasant.  Mr.  Broad.street  started.  ''  Why, 
I  want  .'^onie  presents  ;  Christmas  presents,  you  know," 
he  said,  looking  down  into  the  merry,  l)rown  e3"es. 

"■  Bov  oi'  uirl,  sir,  and  how  old?"  Mr.  Broadstreet 
was  Tairly  taken  aback  by  her  promptnes.s.  His  wife 
always  did  the  Christmas  whopping. 

■'  Let  me  see,"  he  began,  iiurriedl}' ;  "  two  girls  and  a 
—  HO,  I  mean  two  boys  — why,  bless  me  I  "  he  went  on, 
in  great  confusion,  as  her  low  laugh  rang  out  among  the 
woolly  .sheep  with  which  she  lia])i)ened  to  be  surrounded, 
••  I've  really  forgotten.  That  ii^  —  oh,  I  see,  you  needn't 
laugh  I"  and  Mr.  IJroadstreet's  own  smile  broadened  as  he 
spoke.  "  They're  not  mine.  I  never  heard  of  them  until 
live  minutes  ago,  and,  I  declai'c,  I  don't  remember  which 
is  which.  At  any  rate,  there  are  three  of  them,  all  under 
seven." 

•■  How  would  a  lamb  do  for  the  oldest  ?  Real  avooI 
and  natural  motion  I  "  In  proof  of  which  latter  asser- 
tion, she  .set  all  their  heads  nodding  in  the  most  violent 
manner,  until  it  made  her  customers  quite  dizzy  to  look 


\S\ii 


THE  LIEUTENAyT'S   STOliV  COXCIA'DKD. 


•J.S7 


at  theni.  Mr.  Broadstreet  picked  out  the  l)ig<;est  one. 
'•He  seems  to  —  ah  —  bow  more  vigorously  than  tliu 
rest."  lie  said,  gravely. 

The  girl  then  proceeded  to  display  various  toys  and 
gay-colored  picture-hooks,  Mr.  IJroadstreet  assenting  to 
the  choice  in  every  instance,  until  a  large,  compact  bun- 
dle hiy  on  the  counter,  plainly  marked  :  — 

" jUi':  ^i-ij&ojL,  ^aiidiLciat^,  ta  lie  called  few-." 

As  the  lawyer  was  leaving  the  store,  he  remembered 
something,  and  turned  back. 

"  I  forgot."  he  said,  "  I  wanted  to  buy  a  tree  "  — 
'■  Just  round  the  corner."  interrupted  the  l»rown-eved 
girl,  ovei-  her  shoulder,  without  looking  at  him.  Sho  was 
already  deep  in  the  confidence  of  the  next  customer,  who 
had  told  her  the  early  history , of  two  of  her  children,  and 
was  now  proceeding  to  the  third.  Mr.  lii'oadstrect  but- 
toned up  his  coat  collar,  and  stejjped  out  once  more  into 
the  storm.  A  few  moments'  walk  l)rought  him  lo  a  stand 
where  the  trees  were  for  sale.  And  what  a  spicy,  fra- 
grant, delicious,  jolly  place  it  was.  to  be  sure  I  The  side- 
walk was  flanked  right  and  left  with  rows  upon  rows  of 
spruce,  pine,  and  fir  trees,  all  gayly  decked  with  tufts  of 
snow  ;  ever}-  doorway,  too,  was  full  of  these  trees,  as  if 
they  had  huddled  in  there  to  get  out  of  the  storm.  Here 
and  there  were  great  boxes,  overflowing  with  evergreen 
and  holly  boughs,  many  of  which  the  dealers  had  taken 
out  and  stuck  into  all  sorts  of  crannies  and  corners  of 


2»^ 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN   OF  ALASKA. 


lii 


their  stands,  so  that  tlie  glossy  leaves  and  scarlet  berries 
glistened  in  the  flaring  light  of  the  lanijjs.  Wreaths  of 
everv  size  and  description  —  some  made  of  crispy  gray 
moss,  dotted  with  hriglit  amaranths,  some  of  liolly  — 
were  threaded  upon  sticks  like  heads,  and  were  beinc- 
constantly  pulled  off  and  sold  to  the  nuitlled  customers, 
who  poured  through  the  narrow  passageway  in  a  continu- 
ous stream. 

"  All  brightness,"  thought  Mr.  Broadstreet,  "=  and  no 
shadow  this  time." 

None  '.'  What  was  that  black,  ugly-looking  stain  on 
the  fallen  snow,  extending  from  his  own  feet  to  one  of 
the  rude  wooden  stands  where  traffic  was  busiest  ?  Mr. 
Broadstreet  started,  and  scrutinized  it  sharply.  He  soon 
discovered  the  outline  of  Chri.stmas  Present.  Beyond  a 
doubt,  it  was  the  Shadow  again. 


:ii'  I 


i 


It  must  be  confessed  that  for  a  moment  Mr.  Broad- 
street felt  slightly  annoyed.  Why  should  that  thing  be 
constantly  starting  np  and  darkening  his  cheerful  mood  ? 
It  was  bad  enough  that  the  Shadow  should  exist,  without 
intruding  its  melancholy  length  npon  people  who  were 
enjoying  Christmas  Eve.  He  might  have  indulged  in 
still  further  discontent,  when  he  noticed  the  head  of  the 
Shadow-figure  droop  as  in  sadness.  He  remembered  the 
kind  ghost's  grief,  and  upbraided  himself  for  his  hardness 
of  heart. 

"  Forgive  me,"  he  said,  half  aloud.     "  I  was  wrong. 


'is; 
1?  1, 


THE   I.lF.rTEyAXT'S   STORY   cnxCLUUET). 


289 


I  forgot.     I  will,  please  God,  brighten  this  spot  and  turn 
away  the  Shadow  !  " 

Without  further  delay,  he  advanced  through  tiio  gloomy 
space  until  he  reached  the  box  upon  which  a  large  lot  of 
holly  wreaths  and  crosses  were  disi)layed.  He  soon  coni- 
pleted  the  purchase  of  a  line,  thick  fir,  and  sent  it,  to- 
gether with  a  roll  of  evergreens,  to  the  toy-shop,  directed, 
like  the  parcel,  to  the  conductor. 

The  owner  of  the  stand  was  a  jovial,  bright-faced  young 
fellow,  and  it  was  evident  that  to  him  Christmas  meant 
only  gladness  and  jollity.  But  the  Shadow  still  rested 
upon  Mr.  Broadstreet  and  all  the  snowy  sidewalk  about 
him.  He  was  thoroughly  puzzled  to  ilnd  its  oI)ject,  and 
had  almost  begun  to  consider  the  whole  affair  a  delusion, 
when  his  eyes  fell  upon  an  odd  little  li  an,  standing  in 
the  shelter  of  the  trees,  and  visibly  shaking  Avith  the 
cold,  although  his  coat  was  tightly  Inittoned  about  his 
meagre  form,  and  his  old  hat  pulled  down  over  his  ears. 
As  he  saw  the  portly  lawyer  looking  at  him,  he  advanced 
timidly,  and  touched  his'  h:it  with  a  not  ungraceful 
movement. 

"  Can  I  carry  a  bundle  for  you,  sir  ?  "  he  asked,  his 
teeth  chattering  as  he  spoke. 

"  Why,  I'm  afraid  not."  said  Mr.  Broadstreet.  "  I've 
just  sent  away  all  my  goods." 

The  man's  face  fell.  He  touched  his  hat  again,  and 
was  humbly  turning  aw;iy.  when  the  other  laid  his  hand 
lightly  on  his  shoulder. 


290 


TIIK  IIKD  MOryTMN   OF  ALASKA. 


I  ; 


*'  You  seem  to  be  reiilly  suffering  with  tlie  c<j1c1,  my 
friend."  he  said,  in  such  gentle  tones  tiiat  his  "  learned 
brothers  upon  the  other  side  "  would  not  have  recognized 
it ;  *'  and  that's  a  little  too  bad  for  Christmns  Eve." 

'•  Chrifitnias  !  Cin-istmas  !  "  shivered  the  man.  with  a 
little  moan,  wri'iging  his  thin  hands,  ''  what  is  that  to 
me!  AVhat  is  that  to  a  man  whose  wife  is  dying  for 
want  of  tender  nursing  and  wholesome  food?  —  whose 
children  are  growing  up  to  a  lilV  of  misei y  and  degrada- 
tion ? —  whose  own  haj)i)iness  is  gone,  gone  so  long  ago 
that  he  has  forgotten  tin?  feeling  of  it?" 

Mr.  Broadstreet  patted  the  shoulder  gently.  "  Come, 
come,"  he  said,  trying  to  speak  cheerily,  "•  it  isn't  so  bad 
as  that,  you  know.  Times  are  better,  and  there's  plenty 
of  work." 

•'Work!"  cried  tlie  man,  liitterly.  "Yes,  for  the 
friends  of  the  rich  ;  for  the  young  and  strong ;  for  the 
hopefid,  but  not  for  me.  I  tell  you,  sir,"  he  continued, 
raising  his  clenched  fist  until  the  ragged  sleeve  fell  back 
and  left  his  long,  gaunt  wrist  bare  in  the  biting  wind. 
••  I've  walked  from  end  to  end  of  Boston,  day  after  da}-, 
answering  every  advertisement,  applying  for  any  kind  of 
honorable  employment ;  but  not  even  the  city  will  take 
me  to  shovel  snow  in  the  streets,  and  I'm  discouraged, 
discouraged." 

To  ^Ir.  Broadstreet's  dismay,  the  poor  fellow  suddenly 
hid  his  face  in  his  hands,  and  broke  down  in  a  tempest  of 
sobs. 


■I 


I 


; 


e 


THE   LlhrTEXAXT'S   HTOHV  VOSCLl'DKl).  o()i 

Ah,  how  dark  tlie  Shadow  was  tlion  I  'l'h(!  storm  had 
ceased,  but  the  keen  northwest  wind  still  swept  the 
streets,  filling  the  air  with  (ine.  icy  particles  of  snow,  and 
driving  to  their  warm  homes  those  who  had  remained 
down  town  to  make  their  last  purchases. 

The  man  shivered  and  sobbed  h\  turns,  and  was  quite 
the  sport  of  the  wind,  which  was  l)uffeting  him  with  its 
soft,  cruel  paws,  when  suddenly  the  world  seemed  to  grow 
warmer.  He  felt  something  heavy  and  soft  n[)()n  bis 
back  and  around  his  neck.  Mcchiinically  thrusting  his 
aruis  through  the  sleeves  which  opened  to  meet  theui.  and 
looking  np  in  amazement,  he  belu^ld  his  new  friend  stand- 
ing upon  the  sidewalk  in  his  (Iressing-gown.  a  genial 
smile  upon  his  beaming  face,  and  his  hand  outstretched. 
The  lawyer  laughed  gleefully  at  his  consternation. 

•'  It's  all  right,"  he  said,  as  the  discouraged  man  tried 
to  pull  off  the  ulster  and  return  it  to  its  owner.  '"I'm 
warmer  than  ever.  Come  on,  let's  go  home  and  see  ^our 
wife  and  children.  Don"t  stop  to  talk  !  "  And  seizing 
the  other  by  the  hand,  or  rather  the  cuff  of  his  sleeve, 
which  was  much  too  long  for  him.  he  hurried  him  off, 
snatching  a  couple  of  wreaths  from  the  stand  as  he  went 
by,  and  dropping  a  half-dollar  in  their  place. 

It  was  a  strange  experience  for  the  proud  lawj-er,  that 
walk  through  the  dark  streets,  floundering  among  snow- 
drifts, slipping,  tumbling,  scrambling  along  over  icy  side- 
walks and  buried  crossings,  the  long-skirted  gown  flapping 
about  his  heels  in  the  niost  ridiculous  way.     lie  ke])t  his 


I 


202 


TIIK  UKl)   MOUSTAiy  OF  ALASKA. 


■}  . 


III. 

1 ' 

f 'ii  ■ 

ff  i 

H  'i  ' 

oyt'S  .steadily  lixed  on  the  Shadow,  which  was  always 
bt'l'ore  him,  now  turning  down  a  side  street,  now  doubling 
on  itself,  ever  growhig  more  and  more  distinct,  and  draw- 
ing its  two  followers  further  and  further  into  the  lowest 
(juarter  of  the  city.  The  stars  weri'  out  now.  and 
j<eenied  to  ilicker  in  the  fierce  wind  like  the  gas  lights 
ujion  the  street  corners.  Mr.  Broadsti'eet  felt  curiously 
warm  without  his  ulster,  and  as  light-hearted  as  a 
boy. 

As  they  passed  through  the  most  brilliantly  lighted 
streets,  however,  he  saw  mucii  that  hlled  him  for  the 
moment  with  sadness.  For  the  Shadow  now  grew  enor- 
mously large,  and  rested  upon  many  places.  It  brooded 
darkly  over  the  brilliant  saloons  that  lined  the  wa}',  and 
that  clothed  them.selves  in  the  very  garments  of  Christ- 
mas to  attract  the  innocent  and  foolish,  so  that,  drawn 
by  the  sheen  of  holly  and  evergreen,  and  the  show  of 
festivities  and  good  cheer,  they  might  enter  and  (ind  their 
own  destruction.  Oftentimes,  too,  the  Shadow  tlitted 
along  the  street  in  company  with  some  man  or  woman 
who  to  all  outward  appearance  was  calm  and  content 
with  life  ;  perhaps  even  happy,  one  would  have  said.  In 
the  black  folds  of  the  Shadow,  brutal-faced  ruffians  hid 
their  bleared  eyes ;  houses  were  draped  as  in  some  time  of 
national  mourning  ;  once  the  slight,  pretty  figure  of  a 
yomig  girl  came  np,  wearing  the  Shadow  flauntingly  about 
her  neck,  like  a  scarf ;  she  stopped,  and  seemed  about  to 
address  Mr.  Broadstreet  with  bold  words. 


■ 


Mr 


THE  Ln:rrr:\.\yT-s  sroiir  coxcli-dei,. 


2J);5 


As  slic  met  liis  kind.  i)it\  iiin'  ^-laiici'.  liDUfvi'.  Iht  dwii 
eyes  fell,  her  lips  (niivciv.l.  she  divw  tlu'  Shadow  about, 
her  face  and  lied.     Alas!  they  could  do  nothing  for  such 

as    her,   unless    that    gentle,    fatherly    face    should   ( m 

before  her  again  in  her  solitude,  and  by  its  silent  elo- 
quence lead  her  to  better  things,  and  to  the  Founder  of 
Christmas. 

While  Mr.  Broadstreet  was  peering  about  for  the 
Shadow,  and  tailing  into  his  heart  th(f  lessons  it  taught, 
he  had  not  been  idle,  giving  a  kind  woi'd.  or  a  bit  of 
money,  or  a  pleasant  glance  wherever  the  chance  ol^'ered. 

The  Shadow  now  paused  before  a  nari-ow  doorwa}-  in  a 
crooked  little  street,  and  tlie  two —  or  rather  the  three,  for 
the  Sliado"' went  before  them  — entered  and  mounted  the 
stairway.  Mr.  Broadstreet  stnmlded  several  times,  but 
the  Discouraged  Man  Avent  up  like  one  who  was  well  used 
to  the  premises.  As  they  reached  tlu;  third  landing,  a 
voice  somewhere  near  them  commenced  to  sing  feebly, 
and  tliey  stopped  to  listen. 

"  It's  Annette,"  whispered  the  Discouraged  Man  ;  "she's 
singing  for  me.  It  was  a  way  she  had  when  we  -were 
first  married  ;  and  I  used  to  like  it,  coming  home  from  a 
hard  day's  work,  so  she  tried  to  keep  it  up  ever  since. 
Do  you  hear  her.  sir  ?  " 

Yes,  Mr.  Broadstreet  heard  her.  Poor,  poor  little  thin 
voice,  trembling  weakly  on  the  high  notes,  and  avoiding 
the  low  ones  altogether.  It  was  more  like  a  child's  than 
a  woman's,  and  so  tired  —  so  tired  !     He  fumbled  in  his 


294 


r///v  i!Hi>  MorxTAfx  or  .i/.,i.s7»m. 


h 


'i  , 


IS'' 


(Irossing-^owii  |UM'l<(!t.  aiid  tinned  his  head  Jiway — quite 
lU'cdU'ssly.  to!'  it  was  vcrv  dark. 

Tiio  two  men  reiiiaine(l  sil(!iit  for  a  inoinont,  listening 
to  tlie  ecJio  of  the  ^L-av  voung  voice  with  wliich  the  littli; 
hride  used  to  groet  lier  husi)and  ;  she  so  tender,  and  lov- 
inu'.  and  true  ;  he  so  strong,  and  hrave.  and  ho|>efnl  for 
tlie  future!  And.  as  they  listened,  tiiey  cauglit  the 
words :  — 

"CliriHt  wns  borii  on  Cliristnias  Dny, 

Wn'iili.c  till'  iiiilly.  luinc  the  Iniy  ; 

C'ui'itl,  (J'hristiaiis,  joyt'ullv 

The  r.iihf,  till'  Soil,  tlic  \\o\y  One  of  Mury." 

"  That's  a  new  one,"  whisjjered  tlie  Discouraged  Man 
again,  delightedly.  "  She;  never  sung  it  before.  She 
nnist  have  learned  it  on  purpose  for  to-night !  " 

There  was  a  weary  little  pause  within  the  room.  She 
Avas  wondering,  perhaps,  why  he  did''  come.  Presently 
she  began  again,  and  her  voice  had  grown  strangely 
weal<.  so  that  they  eordd  hardly  hear  it  in  the  rush  of  the 
wind  outside  the  building. 

"  Let  the  briglit  red  berries  ,y;lo\v 
Everywhere  —  in  goodly  show  "  — 

It  died  away  into  a  mere  whisper,  and  then  ceased 
entirely. 

Mr.  Broadstreet  hesitated  no  longer,  but  touched  his 
companion's  arm.  and  they  both  entered. 

She  was  lying  on  a  rude  bed  in  the  corner  of  the  room, 
her  eyes  closed,  and  her  hands  folded  upon  her  breast. 


; 


1 


w 


li 


TUK   /Jf.T/A.V.I  V'.'"S   STOIIY   CO.SCI.r  l>KI). 


'^K) 


All  ;i]j;niiy  swept  across  the  face  uf  lici  liiisliaiul  as  lie 
kut'lt  Ix't^iilc  liiT.  takiuij,'  lirr  cold  liumls  —  ali.  so  tlii:i  1  — 
ill  liis  own.  clialiiiiLf  ami  kissing  ilicni  li\-  I'lrns. 

Above  his  head,  on  the  white-washes  -vail,  was  the 
word  ••.lOIIX."  in  hu'ge.  h)'iL;ht.  letters,  ll  was  his  name  ; 
she  had  crejit  i'roni  her  lied  and  tra  i  it  upon  tli  frosty 
Avindow-iiane,  so  that  the  light  I'roni  a  far-wlT  street-laiii|) 
slioiie  throagh  the  clear  lines,  and  thu  i'  [iroducod  them 
ii])on  tile  opposite  wall.  Just  lu'inalli  was  ••  .l/ivv// 
f'/irintiHcis."  She  thought  it  would  please  him.  and  seem 
like  a  sort  of  decorarion  hung  there  ahove  her  bed.  And 
now  he  was  kneeling  by  her  side,  and  holding  her  thin 
hands.  Perhaps  lie  was  more;  di.scuuraged  than  evi'r  just 
then.  Oh.  Shadow,  Shadow,  could  you  not  have  sjiared 
him  this  ! 

Mr.  Hroadstreet  hung  the  wrontli  he  had  bought  upon 
the  bedpost,  and  waited  helplessly.  A  mist  gathered  in 
his  eyes,  so  that  he  could  not  see  :  the  walls  of  the  little 
dismal  chamber  wavered  to  and  fro;  the  Shadow  grew 
more  and  more  dense,  until  it  seemed  to  assume  definite 
shape,  the  shape  of  (Christmas  Present,  sitting,  as  before, 
enthroned  amidst  i)lenty  and  good  cheer  ;  the  deep-toned 
bells  in  a  neighboring  church-tower  slowly  and  solemnly 
tolled  twelve  strokes.  ansA-"ired  by  the  silver  chime  of  a 
clock;  the  flames  of  the  open  fire  rose  and  fell  fitfull\.  in 
mute  an.swer  to  the  blasts  of  wind  that  roared  about  the 
chimney  top.  The  Ghost  dwindled  rapidly,  the  Discour- 
aged Man  assumed  the  proportions  and  appearance  of  a 


■nHH 


I , 


m 


i-'ii 


296  THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 

marble  figure  under  the  mantel,  and  Mr.  Broadstreet, 
starting  up  in  att'right,  found  himself  standing  in  his  own 
warm  room,  the  Christmas  Carol  (still  open  at  the  wonder- 
ful picture)  in  his  hand,  and  his  fur  cap  upon  his  head. 
The  air  still  vibrated  with  the  last  echoes  of  the  midnight 
bell.     It  was  Christmas  morning. 

Not  many  hours  later,  the  glad  sun  was  shining 
briyhtlv  (jvcr  the  white-robed  city,  sprinklim;'  the  streets 
and  housetops  with  diamond-dust,  gleamiug  upon  the 
golden  si)ires  of  churches,  seeking  out  every  dai'k  and  un- 
wholesome corner  with  its  noiseless  step,  and  dispensing 
with  open  hand  its  bounty  of  purity  and  warmth.  Yet 
the  Shadow  was  there,  even  on  that  fairest  of  Christmas 
Days,  —  and  Mr.  Broadstreet  knew  it. 

Throughout  the  day  he  was  thoughtful  and  al)stracted, 
and  during  the  following  weeks  he  was  observed  to  act  in 
the  most  unaccountable  manner.  On  snowy  evenings  he 
would  dodge  out  of  the  house,  without  the  slighte.st  warn- 
ing, and  return  shortly  after  with  damp  boots  and  a  dis- 
couraged air,  until  one  night  he  came  in  with  a  beaming 
face,  leading  a  policeman,  upon  whom  he  had  apparently 
turned  tables  bv  arresting  him  in  his  own  doorway.  lie 
only  made  him  sit  down,  however,  and  drink  hot  coffee  to 
a  most  alarming  extent,  following  it  up  with  an  invita- 
tion to  drop  in  any  cold  evening  and  warm  himself. 

Upon  the  horse-cars  Mr.  Broadstreet  became  famous 
that  winter  for  his  obliging  manners  and  pleasant  ways 
with  the    employes.      Indeed,  he  more    than    once   per- 


lil; 


THE   LIEUTENANT'S    STORY  CONCLrDED. 


297 


sisted  in  remaining  on  the  platform  with  the  condnetor  or 
driver,  at  the  imminent  rislv  of  freezing  his  ears  and  nose, 
until  he  was  fandy  driven  within-doors. 

Down  town  he  behaved  still  more  qneerl}-,  leaving  tlie 
office  long  before  dark,  and  being  discovered  in  the  oddest 
places  imaginable;  now  diving  into  narrow  eoui'ts  and 
np  steep  staircases,  now  plnnging  into  alleyways  and  no 
thoroughfares  ;  and  returning  home  late  to  dinner,  greatly 
exhausted,  with  little  or  no  money  in  his  jux-kets.  In 
these  days,  too,  he  began  to  talk  about  the  sufferings  of 
the  poor,  the  abuses  of  the  licpior  law.  the  nei'd  of  strong, 
pure  women  to  go  among  the  outcasts  of  our  great,  ti'ou- 
bled  city  and  perform  Christ-like  deeds. 

One  bitter  cold  night  he  was  much  later  than  usual. 
It  had  been  snowing  heavily,  and  his  wife  had  begun  to 
worry  a  little  over  the  absence  of  her  hus])and.  when  she 
heard  the  click  of  his  key  in  the  front  door.  When  Mr. 
Broadstreet  entered,  sprinkled  Avith  snow  from  head  to 
foot,  what  was  her  amazement  to  .see  him  standing  there 
with  fur  cap  and  gloves,  and  a  glowing  faci-.  l)ut  no 
ulster! 

"Alonzo!  Alonzo !  "  she  cried,  from  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  ''  what  will  you  forget  next  ?  Where  have  you 
left  it  ?  " 

••  Why,"  said  he,  simply,  "  I've  found  the  Discouraged 
Man.     And  the  doctor  says  she'll  get  well." 


If'-  \ 


CHAPTER   XXV. 


SXOAVEI)    UP. 


-St 

i! 


J ; "    I 


1 

1      ^ 

4t 

§ 

!    i 

f;f; 

1    i 

$ 

u 

h 

1* 

j 

i 

'  ! 

|!«i 

fcl 

P 

Sf 

1 

if' 
V 

Li 

|HEN  the  applause  which  followed  the  lieutenant's 
story   had  died  away.   Mrs.  Dutton  announced 
that  it  was  ten  o'clock,  and  time  for  the  young 
folks  to  be  abed. 

There  was  a  general  outcry  at  this,  and  Mr.  Dutton 
good-naturedly  consented  to  tell  one  more  story,  to  wind 
up  the  evening. 

••  1  can't  pretend  to  make  it  up,"  said  he.  "It's  one  I 
read  in  the  C/wistnuts  Tmoeller  in  Boston  a  year  or  two 
ago.  Howe^•er,  here  goes  1  I'll  give  it  to  you  as  nearly 
as  I  can,  the  way  it  came  out  in  print." 

The  story  Avhich  Mr.  Dutton  told,  he  announced  as 

CHRISTMAS    ox    WIIKKLS. 

A  railroad  station  in  a  large  city  is  hardly  an  inviting 
spot,  at  its  best.  But  at  the  close  of  a  cheerless,  blustering 
December  day,  when  biting  draughts  of  wind  come  scurry- 
ing in  at  every  open  door,  filling  the  air  with  a  gray  com- 
pound of  dust  and  fine  snow  :  when  passengers  tramp  up 
and  down  the  long  platform,  waiting  impatiently  for  their 
trains ;  when  newsboys  wander  about  with  disconsolate, 

2i/8 


SNOiVEi)  rr. 


291) 


red  faces,  hands  in  pockets,  and  hiUKHtvs  of  unsold  pajtcrs 
mider  their  ra";u;ed  and  shiverinu;  anus;  wiion.  in  u;('neral. 
human-kind  presents  itself  as  altogether  a  frozen,  forlorn, 
discouraged,  ;ukI  hopeless  race,  condemned  to  he  swept 
ahout  on  the  nipping,  dusty  wind,  like  Francesca  and  her 
lover,  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  an  hour.  —  then  the 
station  becomes  positively  unendurable. 

So  thought  Bob  Estii])rook.  ms  he  paced  to  and  fro  in 
the  Boston  &  Alliany  depot,  travelling-lj«ig  in  hand,  on 
just  such  a  night  as  I  have  described.  Beside  him.  loco- 
motive^i  puffed  and  plunged  and  backed  on  the  shining 
rails,  as  if  they,  too,  felt  compelled  to  trot  up  and  down 
to  keep  themselves  warm,  and  in  even  tolerably  good 
humor. 

"Just  my  luck!"  growled  Bol).  witli  a  misanthropic 
glare  at  a  loud-voiced  family  who  were  passing.  '•  Christ- 
mas coming,  two  jolly  Brighton  parties  and  an  oratorio 
thrown  up.  and  here  am  T,  fired  off  to  San  Francisco.  So 
much  for  Ijelng  junior  member  of  a  law  firm.  Wonder 
what  "  — 

Here  tlie  rufllled  current  of  his  meditations  ran  plnnip 
against  a  rock,  and  as  .suddenly  diverged  from  their  former 
course.  The  rock  was  no  less  than  a  yonng  person  who 
at  that  moment  approached,  with  a  gray-haired  man,  and 
inquired  the  way  to  the  ticket  oHice. 

Bol)  politely  gave  them  the  desired  information,  and 
Avatched  them  with  growing  interest  as  thev  followed  his 
directions   and    stood    before    the  lighted  window.     The 


300 


77//;  RED  MOUyTAiy   OF  ALASKA. 


I  , 


III 


m 


I 


two  silhouettes  were  decidedly  out  of  the  couiinon.  The 
voice,  whose  delicate  tones  still  lingered  pleasantly  about 
Mr.  Kohert  Estabrook's  fastidious  ears,  was  an  individual 
voice,  as  distinguishable  from  any  other  he  remembered 
as  was  the  owner's  bright  face,  the  little  fur  collar  beneath 
it,  the  daintily  gloved  hands,  and  the  pretty  brown  travel- 
ling-suit. 

"Dignified  old  fellow!"  mused  Bob,  irrelevantly,  as 
the  couple  moved  toward  the  train-gates.  ''  Probably  her 
father.  Perhaps  —  hallo,  by  George!  they're  going  on 
my  car !  " 

With  which  breath  of  summer  in  his  Avinter  of  discon- 
tent, the  young  man  proceeded  to  linish  his  cigar,  consult 
his  watch,  and,  as  the  last  warning  l)ell  rang,  step  upon 
the  platform  of  the  already  moving  Pullman.  It  nmst  be 
admitted  that  as  he  entered  he  gave  an  expectant  glance 
down  the  aisle  of  the  car;  but  the  sombre  curtains  hang- 
ing from  ceiling  to  iloor  told  no  tales.  Too  sleepy  to 
speculate,  and  too  learned  in  the  marvellous  acoustic 
properties  of  a  sleei)ing-car  to  engage  the  porter  in  con- 
versation on  the  subject,  he  found  his  berth,  arranged 
himself  for  the  night  with  the  nonchalance  of  an  old 
traveller,  and,  laying  his  head  upon  his  vibrating  atom  of 
a  i)illow,  was  soon  plunged  into  a  dream  at  least  fifty 
miles  long. 


It  was  snowing,  and  snowing  hard.     Moreover,  it  had 
been  snowing  all  niglit  and  all  the  afternoon  before.    The 


Ciij 


SyOUKI)    T'P. 


801 


wind  rioted  furiously  over  the  broad  Missouri  plains, 
alternately  building  up  huge  castles  of  snow  and  throwing 
them  down  again,  like  a  fretful  child  ;  overtaking  the 
belated  teamster  on  his  homeward  journey,  clutching  him 
with  its  icy  hand,  and  leaving  him  buried  in  a  tomb  uiore 
spotless  than  the  fairest  mar])le  ;  howling,  shrieking, 
racing  madly  to  and  fro,  never  out  of  breath,  always  the 
same  tireless,  pitiless,  awful  power.  Rocks,  fields,  some- 
times even  forests,  were  blotted  out  of  the  landscape.  A 
mere  hyphen  upon  the  broad,  white  page  lay  the  Western- 
bound  train.  The  fires  in  the  locomotives  (there  were 
two  of  them)  had  been  suffered  to  go  out.  and  the  great 
creatures  waited  silently  together,  while  the  snow  drifted 
higher  and  higher  upon  their  patient  backs. 

When  Bob  had  waked  that  morning,  to  find  the  tem- 
pest more  furious  than  ever,  and  the  train  stuck  fast  in  a 
hug;e  snow-l)ank.  his  fir.'^t  thought  was  of  dismay  at  the 
possible  detention  in  the  narrow  limits  of  the  Pullman, 
which  seemed  much  colder  than  it  had  before  ;  his  next 
was  to  wonder  how  the  change  of  fortune  would  affect 
Gertrude  Raymond.  Of  course,  he  had  long  ago  become 
acquainted  with  the  l)rown  travelling-suit  and  fur  (dollar. 
Of  course,  there  had  been  numberless  little  services  for 
him  to  perform  for  her  and  the  old  gentleman,  who  had 
indeed  proved  to  be  her  father. 

Once  more  he  became  misanthropic.  "  There's  Miss 
Raymond,  now,"  he  growled  to  himself,  knocking  his 
head  savagely  against  the  upper  berth  in  his  attempt  to 


T^ 


immm 


302 


rilE  RED   MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


?!^ 


\y 


li  i  ■! 

li. 


m 


look  out  through  the  frosty  pane,  "  sitthig  over  across  the 
aisle  day  after  day,  with  her  kid  gloves  and  all  that. 
Nice  enough,  of  course,"  recalling  one  or  two  spirited  con- 
versations where  hours  had  slipped  by  like  minutes,  "  but 
confoundedly  useless,  like  the  rest  of  'em.  If  she  were  like 
mother,  now,  there'd  bo  no  trouble.  She'd  take  care  of 
her.self.  But,  as  it  is,  the  whole  car  will  be  tiu'ned  upside 
down  for  heir  to-day,  for  fear  she'll  freeze,  or  starve,  or 
spoil  her  complexion,  or  something. ' 

Here  Bob  turned  an  extremely  cold  shoulder  on  the 
window,  and,  having  performed  a  sort  of  horizontal  toilet, 
emerged  from  his  berth,  his  hair  on  end.  and  his  face 
expressive  of  utter  dehance  to  the  world  in  general,  and 
contempt  of  fashionable  young  ladies  in  particular. 

At  that  moment.  Miss  Raymond  appeared  in  the  aisle, 
sweet  and  rosy  as  a  June  morning,  her  cheeks  glowing, 
and  her  eyes  sparkling  with  fun. 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Estabrook,"  she  said,  demurely, 
settling  the  fur  collar  about  her  neck. 

Bob  endeavored  to  look  dignified,  and  was  conscious  of 
failure. 

''  Good-mo-morning,"  he  replied,  with  some  stiffness, 
and  a  shiver  which  took  him  by  surprise.  It  was  cold, 
jumping  out  of  that  warm  berth. 

''  I  understand  we  must  stav  —  but  don't  let  me  detain 
you,"  she  added,  with  a  sly  glance  at  his  hair. 

Bob  turned  and  marched  off  solenmly  to  the  masculine 
end  of  t>e  car,  washed  in  ice-water,  completed  his  toilet, 


■I 


SNOWKU   UP. 


30;5 


and  came  back  refreshed.  Breakfast  was  formally  served 
as  usual,  and  then  a  council  of  war  was  held.  Conductor, 
engineers,  and  brakemen  being  consulted,  and  inventories 
taken,  it  was  found  that,  while  food  was  abundant,  tlie 
stock  of  wood  in  the  bins  would  not  last  till  noon.  There 
were  twelve  railroad  men  and  thirty-five  passengers  on 
board,  some  twenty  of  the  latter  being  emigrants  in  a 
second-class,  behind  the  two  Pullmans. 

The  little  company  gathered  in  the  snow-bound  car 
looked  blankly  at  each  other,  soir.e  of  them  instinctively 
drawing  their  wraps  more  tightly  about  their  shoulders, 
as  if  they  already  felt  the  approaching  chill. 

It  was  miles  to  the  nearest  station  in  either  direction. 
Above,  below,  on  all  sides,  was  the  white  blur  of  tunuiltu- 
ous,  wind-lashed  snow. 

The  silence  was  broken  pleasantly.  Once  moiv  Bob 
felt  the  power  of  those  clear,  sweet  tones. 

''  The  men  nnist  make  up  a  party  to  hunt  for  wood." 
she  said.  '•  "While  you're  gone,  we  women  will  do  what 
we  can  for  those  who  are  left." 

The  necessity  for  immediate  action  was  evident ;  and 
without  further  words  the  council  broke  up,  to  obey  her 
suggestion. 

A  dozen  men,  looking  like  amateur  Esquimaux,  and 
floundering  up  to  their  armpits  at  the  first  step,  started 
ot¥  through  the  drifts.  Bob  thought  he  recognized  a  face 
pressed  close  to  the  pane,  and  watching  them  anxiously ; 
but  he  could  not  be  sure. 


-5* 


tj 
J* 


IT 


804 


riiK  iiici)  MorNTArs  01^  Alaska. 


Two  hours  later,  the  men  appeared  once  more,  some 
staggering!;  untler  huge  logs,  some  with  axes,  some  ^vith 
bundles  of  ligliter  houghs  for  kindling.  In  another  five 
minutes,  smoke  was  going  up  cheerily  from  the  whole  line 
of  ears. 

When  Boh  Estahrook  stamped  into  his  own  car,  hug- 
ging up  a  l)ig  armful  of  wood,  he  was  a  different-looking 
fellow  from  the  trim,  young  lawyer  who  was  wont  to 
stand  hefore  the  jury  scats  in  the  Boston  court-house. 
He  had  on  a  pair  of  immense  hlue-yarn  mittens  loaned  by 
a  kindly  hi-akeman.  his  face  was  scratched  with  refractory 
twigs,  his  eyebrows  were  frosted,  his  mustache  an  icy 
caret,  two  finger-tips  frozen,  and,  with  all  this,  he  looked 
and  felt  more  manly  than  ever  before  in  his  life. 

His  eye  roved  through  the  length  of  the  car,  as  it  had 
that  first  night  in  the  depot.  She  was  not  there.  He 
was  as  anxious  as  a  boy  for  her  pi'aise. 

'''  Guess  I'll  take  it  into  the  next  car,"  he  said,  apolo- 
getically, to  the  nearest  passenger  ;  "  there's  more  coming, 
just  behind." 

She  was  not  in  the  second  Pullman.  Of  course,  she 
w^asn't  in  the  baggage-car.  Was  it  possible  —  ?  He  en- 
tered the  third  and  last  car,  recoiling  just  a  bit  at  the 
odor  of  crowded  and  unclean  poverty  which  met  him  at 
the  door. 

Sure  enough,  there  she  sat  —  his  idle,  fashionable  t3'pe 
of  inutility  —  with  one  frowzy  child  upon  the  seat  beside 
her.  two  very  rumpled-looking  boys  in  front,  and  in  her 


1 


SNOn-RD    UP.  o,,- 

tn  I,) 

arms  a  baby  with  tcrra-cotta  hair.  Somehow,  tlio  bal)3"s 
hair  against  tlie  fur  colliir  didn't  look  so  h.idly  as  you 
would  expect,  either.  She  seemed  to  l)e  singing  it  to 
sleep,  and  kept  on  with  lier  soft  crooning  as  slie  glanced 
up  over  its  tangled  red  locks  at  snowy  liob  and  liis  arm- 
fnl  of  wood,  with  a  look  in  her  eyes  that  would  have  sent 
him  cheerfully  to  Alaska  for  more,  had  there  been  need. 

With  the  comfortable  heat  of  the  fires,  tlie  kind  otUces 
of  nearly  all  the  well  dressed  people  to  the  poorer  ones.  — 
for  they  were  not  slow,  these  kid-gloved  Pullman  pas.sen- 
gers,  to  follow  Miss  Raymond's  example,  —  the  day  wore 
on  quietly  and  not  unpleasantly  toward  its  close.  Then 
some  one  suddenly  remembered  that  it  was  Christmas 
Eve. 

"  Dear  me !  "  cried  Miss  Raymond,  deliglitedly,  reach- 
ing round  the  baby  to  clap  her  hands;  ''let's^  have  a 
Christmas  party  ! " 

A  few  sighed  and  shook  their  heads,  as  they  thought  of 
their  own  home  firesides  ;  one  or  two  smiled  indulgently  on 
the  small  enthusiast ;  several  chimed  in  at  once.  Conduc- 
tor and  baggage-master  were  consulted,  and  the  spacious 
baggage  car  "  specially  engaged  for  the  occasion,"  the 
originator  of  the  scheme  triumphantly  announced.  Pi-ep- 
arations  commenced  without  delay.  All  the  young  people 
put  their  heads  together  in  one  corner,  and  many  were 
the  explosions  of  laughter  as  the  programme  grew. 
Trunks  were  visited  by  their  owners,  and  small  articles 


•?* 


i, 


rJrt 


m 


306 


THE  UED  MOUyTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


h. 


\li 


1-5:;;   I 

IT'  ■ 

III  I 


hi    I 


■: 


abstracted  therefrom  to  serve  as  gifts  for  tlie  emigrants 
and  train-men,  to  whose  particular  entertainment  the 
evening  was  by  common  consent  to  be  devoted. 

Just  as  the  lamps  were  lighted  in  the  train,  our  hero, 
who  had  disappeared  early  in  the  afternoon,  returned, 
dragging  after  him  a  small,  stunted  pine  tree,  which 
sooinod  to  have  strayed  away  from  its  native  forest  on 
purpose  for  the  celebration.  On  being  admitted  to  the 
grand  hall.  Bob  further  added  to  the  decorations  a  few 
strings  of  a  queer,  mossy  sort  of  evergreen.  Hereupon 
a  very  young  man  with  light  eyebrows,  who  had  hitherto 
been  incoi  picuous.  suddenly  appeared  from  the  deptiis 
of  a  battered  trunk,  over  the  edge  o'  which  he  had  for 
some  time  been  bent  like  a  siphon,  and  with  a  beaming 
face  produced  a  box  of  veritable,  tiny  wax  candles'  lie 
was"-on  the  road,"  he  explained,  for  a  large  wholesale 
toy  shop,  and  these  were  samples.  He  guessed  he  could 
make  it  all  right  with  the  firm. 

Of  course,  the  affair  was  a  great  success.  I  have  no 
space  to  tell  of  the  sheltered  walk  that  Bob  constructed, 
of  rugs,  from  car  to  car ;  of  the  beautified  interior  of  the 
old  baggage-car,  draped  with  shawls  and  brightened  with 
bits  of  ribbon  ;  of  the  mute  wonder  of  the  poor  emigrants, 
a  number  of  whom  had  but  just  arrived  from  Germany, 
and  could  not  speak  a  word  of  English ;  of  their  un- 
bounded delight  when  the  glistening  tree  was  disclosed, 
and  the  cries  of  '•  Weihnaclitshaum  !  Wclhiiachtshaumf" 
from  their  rumpled  children,  whose  faces  waked  into  a 


sycivKi)  vi\ 


mi 


glow  uf  hlisst'nl  nrill  jtion  at  the  sight.  Ah!  if  you 
could  have  ,swu  t:he  pretty  gifts,  the  brave  little  pine 
(which  all  the  mai'ugers  agreed  couldn't  possibly  have 
been  used  had  it  Leeu  an  inch  taller);  the  inii)roviscd 
tableaux,  wherein  Bol>  successively  personated  an  ornan- 
grinder,  a  i)ug  dog.  and  Hamlet,  amid  thunders  of  ap- 
plause from  the  brakemen  and  engineers!  Then  the 
passengers  sang  a  simi)l(!  Christmas  earol.  Miss  llaymond 
leading  witii  her  pure  s(jprano,  and  Bob  chiming  in  like 
the  diapa,son  of  an  oriran. 

Just  as  the  last  words  died  away,  a  sudden  hush  came 
over  the  audienw;.     Could  it  be  an  illusion,  or  did  thev 
hear  the  mufUed  but  sweet  notes  of  a  church  liell  faint  1\- 
soundhig  wdthout?     Tears  came  into  the  eyes  of  some  of 
the    roughest   of    the    emigrants  as    they    listened,    and 
thought  of  a  wee  belfry  somewhere   in  the  Fatherland, 
where  the   Christmas  Ijells  were  calling  to  prayers  that 
night.     The  sound  of  the  bells  ceased,  and  the  merriment 
went  on.  w^liile  tlie  young  man.  with  eyebrows  lighter  than 
ever,  but  with  radiant  face,  let  himself  quietly  into  the 
car  unnoticed.     Tt  had  been  his  own  thought  to  creep  out 
into  the  .storm,  clear  away  the  snow  from  the  nearer  loco- 
motive bell,  and  ring  it  while  the  gayety  was  at  its  height. 
All  this  indeed   there  wtts,  and  more ;  lut  to  Bob  the 
joy  and  sweetness  of  the  evening  centred  in  one  bright 
face.     What  mattered  it  if  the  wind  roared  and   moaned 
about  the  lonely,  snow-drifted  train,  while  he  could   look 
into  those  brown  eyes,  and  listen  to  that  voice  for  whose 


•■f 


;f! 


!i,l 


30.S 


////•;  iii:j)  MoiMAiy  of  Alaska. 


h^ 


c'vei'V  tone  he  was  fust  k'iirniiig  to  watch  ?  Truly,  it  was 
a  wuiidcrl'iil  cvcuiiig  altcjgcthcr. 

Well,  the  blockade  was  raised,  and  the  long  railroad 
trip  (inished  at  last.  IJiit  two  of  its  passengers,  at  least, 
have  agreed  to  enter  upon  a  still  longer  journe}'. 

She  sa\s  it  all  began  when  he  eanio  staggerinu;  in  with 
his  armful  of  wood  and  his  l)lue  mittens;  and  he?  he 
doesn't  care  at  all  when  it  began.  Me  only  realizes  the 
joy  that  has  come  to  him.  and  believes  that  after  a  certain 
day  next  May  it  will  be  Christmas  for  him  all  the  year 
round. 

The  story  was  voted  a  success,  and  with  many  ••  good- 
nights"  the  company  broke  up  to  lie  down  and  dream  of 
the  dear  old  Christmas  Day  of  old,  —  and  of  home. 

At  about  midnight.  Mrs.  Dulton  was  arou.sed  by  a  hand 
placed  on  her  shoulder. 

•■  Lor.  Mis'  Dutton  ! "  chattered  Chloe,  who  had  awakened 
her.  ••  I's  mos'  scaret  to  death.  I  am  !  " 

'•Why.  what's  the  matter.  Chloe?" 

"  Je.s'  30U  hark,  ma'am  !  —  Dar  —  hear  dat  ? " 

Mrs.  Dutton  did  hear  it.  ;ind  it  made  her  flesh  creep. 
It  was  a  long,  mournful  howl,  as  sad  and  penetrating  in 
its  drawn-out  notes  as  the  wail  of  a  lost  soul.  Another, 
and  another,  nearer  than  before. 

Carlo,  who  was  spending  the  night  in  their  hut.  now 
began  to  growl.  Looking  out,  they  found  him  standing 
in  the  firelight,  his  hair  bristling,  and  his  teeth  showing. 


of 


WITIIIX    A    li(II)    OK    THK    irUT    WKKK    A    UDZKX    SHAUOWV    FOKM8. 


i '» 


,t  ! 


\M 


\w 


I, 


hi  1 


:.|, 


mi: 


SNOWED   UP. 


311 

"  He's 


"Look  at  his  tail,  missus!"  whispered  Cliloe. 
as  scaret  as  I  am.     Oli,  Lor  !  what  shell  we  do !  " 

She  was  right.  The  big  Newfoundlund's  tail  was  be- 
tween his  legs,  and  he  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Wake  up,  wake  up,  John  !  "  cried  Mrs.  Dutton,  arous- 
ing her  sleepy  husband.  "■  There's  something  outside  the 
hut.     Look  at  the  dog  I  " 

By  this  thne  little  Nat  and  Flossie  were  beside  their 
mother. 

Again  that  fearful  howl,  eo  nuich  nearer,  and  repeated 
in  such  prolonged  chorus,  that  every  one  started.  The 
women  shook  with  fear. 

'•Let's  go  out  and  see  what  it  is,"  said  Nat,  calmly, 
stepping  toward  the  door  and  opening  it. 

Mr.  Dutton  sprang  forward,  dragged  the  boy  back,  and 
slammed  the  door  again  ;  none  too  soon,  for  within  a  rod 
of  the  hut  were  a  dozen  dark,  shadowy  forms,  with  fiery 
eyes  and  snarling  mouths.  Even  as  Mr.  Dutton  closed 
the  door  two  or  three  of  chem  sprang  forward. 

A  renewed  howl  arose  at  their  disappointment. 

'•  Wolves,"  .said  Mr.  Dutton,  calmly,  turning  to  his  wife. 
*'  As  long  as  we  keep  indoors  we  are  safe." 

Mrs.  Dutton  shuddered,  as  she  thought  of  the  freedom 
with  which  they  had  all  strayed  away  from  the  hut  during 
the  past  week. 

"  They  have  found  game  scarce,  just  as  we  have," 
added  Mr.  Dutton,  "and  that  makes  them  ugly  and 
bold"  — 


mi: 


I'm 


tut; 
B'li  i 


812 


THE  llEI)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


He  tvas  interrupted  by  a  reruwed  liowling  and  snarling 
outside,  accompanied  by  a  scratching  and  ripping  sound. 

Then  came  a  riflo  sliot,  close  by,  a  sliin'[i  yelp,  and  a 
tremendous  scampering  of  feet.  The  door  opened,  admit- 
ting the  welcome  form  of  Solomon,  rifle  in  hand. 

"  The  pesky  critters  have  got  into  our  stores."  said  he, 
ha.stily.  ''  Come  out  here  quick,  an"  bring  your  rifle  to 
keep  'em  off,  while  I  see  haow  nnich  mischief  they've 
done." 

Mr.  Dutton  turned  pale,  but  did  as  he  was  bid.  Al- 
ready the  fierce  creatures  were  gathering  for  another 
onslaught.  A  well  aimed  ball  scattered  them  again,  and 
a  hasty  examination  was  made  of  the  storage  tent. 

"When  the  hunter  and  Mr.  Dutton  reentered  the  hut 
they  were  silent.  Each  bore  in  his  arms  a  few  pieces  of 
meat  and  fl.sh.  As  the}'  laid  these  fragments  on  the  table 
at  which  they  had  so  recently  sat  with  shouts  of  merri- 
ment. Mr.  Dutton  turned  his  face  away  from  his  wife's 
inquiring  look. 

"  Is  —  is  —  that  all  that  is  left,  John  ?  " 

"All!" 

The  wolv(^s  had  made  an  almost  clean  sweep  of  the 
larder.  Not  four  days'  provisions  were  left.  There  was 
no  game  to  l)e  found  within  fifty  miles,  so  far  as  the 
besieged  party  knew,  and  the  fierce  pack  constituted  a 
new  peril  to  hunters.  Four  long  months  of  cold  weather 
to  come  before  they  could  think  of  resuming  their  journey. 
Was  Peeschee's  map  right,  then,  after  all  ?     Was  a  new 


SNOWED  rp. 


31  ;i 


enemy  —  sfarration  —  to  accomplisli  what  neither  cold 
nor  wild  beasts  nor  disease  had  elit'ected  ?  Was  it  to  be. 
to  this  brave  little  company,  a  Valley  of  Deatli  ? 

Monrnfully,  on  the  night  wind,  came  the  howl  of  the 
Avolves  outside,  like  an  answer  to  the  question. 


^^^^^^&^ 


in  -fimfi'm^  w«*^'  ji^^  ^^- 


s. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


PEESCIIKK  S    MAP    AGAIN. 


jIAPA.  we've  just  been  having  Christmas,  you 
know.     Won't  lie  take  care  of  ns.  and  give  us 
plenty  to  eat  ?     He  did  once,  didn't  He,  with 
onlv  iust  a  few  loaves  and  fishes  ? " 

The  men  had  remained  silently  standing,  before  the  fire. 
Mr.  Button's  head  was  bowed,  and  his  face  was  covered 
with  his  hands. 

At  little  Nat's  words,  wliich  sliowed  never  a  doubt  of 
his  heavenly  Father's  care  over  his  children.  Mrs.  Dutton 
came  to  her  husband's  side,  and  laid  her  hand  gently  on 
his  shoulder. 

"  Nat  is  right,"  she  said,  softly.    '•  Let  ns  be  brave,  John. 
God  has  not  deserted  us  yet,  and  he  will  not  now." 
''  But  what  can  we  do,  Ella  ? " 

"  T  wus  thinkin',"  broke  in  Solomon,  who  had  been 
standing  at  a  little  distance,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  "the 
only  way  will  be  fer  me  and  your  two  Injuns  to  start  off 
to-morrow  morning  fer  a  grand  hunt." 

"  Oh,  I  shall  go  myself,"  began  Mr.  Dutton. 
"  No.     You  nnistn't  resk  anything  before  you  have  to. 
You've  got  your  wife  an'  darter  and  the  boys  to  think  of. 

3U 


■> 


PKESCIIEhrS  MAP  AGAIN. 


315 


I'm  alone  in  the  world.  No  one  will  care  when  I  go, 
any  way  !  "  —  the  man  faltered  a  little. 

"  Oh,  Solomon !  "  cried  Floss,  slipping  her  little  hand 
into  his,  '■  you  mustn't  talk  so !  We  all  love  you 
dearly ! " 

"  I  know,  T  know,"  said  Solomon.  "  an',  as  fer  you,  Miss 
Floss,  I  b'lieve  I  couldn't  think  more  of  ye  ef  you  wus 
my  very  own  darter.  But,  however  that  may  be,  I'm  the 
fust  man  to  go  on  that  hunt.  The  Injuns  .shall  go  too,  ef 
they  will.  They're  lonesome,  roamin'  critters  Hive  me, 
and  mout's  well  be  oft"  in  the  woods  as  sozzlin'  over  the 
fire  here  't  home." 

" Wlien  shall  you  start?"  asked  Mrs.  Dutton.  "Oh, 
those  wolves  !  "  she  added,  nervously.  ''  I  do  wish  they'd 
stop  that  dreadful  howling!  " 

"  Can't  afford  to  waste  lead  on  'em,  or  I'd  drive  'em 
off  fer  a  while.  I  shall  start  as  soon  as  it's  light  enough 
to  see." 

'*  Papa,"  said  Nat,  holding  \\\)  a  piece  of  paper,  *•  what 
is  this?  It  was  sticking  on  to  that  largest  piece  of  meat 
you  brought  in." 

Mr.  Dutton  glanced  at  it  carelessly,  as  he  took  it. 

"It's  Peeschee's  map,"  he  said.  ''Would  to  God  he 
had  never  made  it !  "  he  added,  bitterly. 

Solomon  too  had  observed  the  map,  as  the  little  fellow 
held  it. 

A  sudden  thought,  or  remembrance,  seemed  to  strike 
him. 


^1 


.'~"V'  «WM«»»i»-»!<>iitaj^»l.~-J -..»«,; 


810 


rilE  RED  Mf-ONTAiy  OF  ALASKA. 


m  ■ 


"Let  me  look  at  that  ar  map  one  mimite,  will  ye?'* 
he  said. 

He  held  it  down  to  the  firelight  and  examined  it  atten- 
tively ;  then  ruhhed  his  hand  through  his  grizzled  locks 
in  a  puzzled  way. 

"  What  is  it,  Solomon  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  see  Peeschee,"  said  the  hunter,  reflectively, 
without  vouchsafing  an  answer. 

He  rose  to  go  out,  but  the  Alaskan  siixed  him  the 
trouble  by  entering  the  hut  at  that  moment.  It  was  evi- 
dent from  his  blank  face  that  he  knew  what  had  happened, 
and  realized  the  danger  that  stared  them  in  the  face. 

'•Look  here,  old  fellow,"  said  Solomon,  -'here's  some- 
thing I  don't  understand." 

He  pointed  to  the  hieroglyph,  on  the  map,  which  looked 
like  a  saw-horse  with  an  X  on  one  end. 

"We've  faound  everything  else,  so  far,"  continued 
Solomon,  '•  except  that  critter.  As  fer  that  skull  in  tlie 
corner,  I  believe  the  old  medicine-man,  or  whoever  first 
made  the  map,  jest  put  it  in  1o  scare  people  away,  in  case 
thev  got  so  near  the  maounting  as  this." 

The  two  men  crouched  by  the  fire,  and  bent  closely  over 
the  tracing. 

Presently  P^^schee  straightened  himself  up,  and  an- 
nounced his  verdict  in  one  word : 

"  Caribou." 

"  Hooray ! "  shouted  Solomon,  starting  to  his  feet. 
"You've  got  it,  sure.     I've  seen  an  Injun  draw  a  caribou, 


PEESCIIKirs   MAP   AG  A IX. 


317 


an'  that's  jest  the  way  he  figgers  it  aout.  Ft)ur  legs  and 
two  big  horns." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Mr.  Button,  impatiently,  *•  what 
does  it  mean  ?  We  haven't  seen  any  caribou  signs  near 
the  trail." 

'•  That's  exactly  the-  p'int.  Ef  we  had,  and  hadn't, 
come  onto  a  caribou,  I  should  think  sartin  the  game  lied 
desarted  the  country  and  moved  thar  quarters.  But  it's 
my  opinion  we  hevn't  struck  the  right  place  for  'em,  fust 
nor  last ! " 

''  Where  do  you  think  the  game  is,  then  ?  "  Mr.  But- 
ton's tone,  it  naist  be  confessed,  was  not  very  hopeful. 

''Why.  I  remember  seein'  a  sort  of  big  gnlcli  making 
up  inter  the  maountings  on  the  right-hand  side  o'  the 
trail,  as  we  come  along  over  that  ar  awful  rough  i)ieee  o' 
travellin'.  It  looked  kind  o'  gamey  then,  but  we  wus  all 
so  full  o'  gittin'  ahead  that  thar  was  no  chance  to  try. 
It's  my  opinion  that  ef  I  should  go  back  fifteen  miles  or 
so  on  our  trail,  and  then  strike  off  straight  to  the  west'ard, 
by  that  ar  gulch.  I'd  bring  ye  in  some  caribou." 

"  You  never  could  get  it  home,  if  you  shot  one." 

''  Oh,  you  c'n  resk  me  an'  the  Injuns  fer  luggin'  it 
home,  ef  we  once  bring  daown  a  caribou.  Anyways, 
we'll  try  it.     Good-night !  " 

"  Good-night,  Solomon,  and  God  bless  you  for  your 
courage  and  devotion  !  " 

They  all  shook  hands  with  him  silently,  and  he  went 
out  into  the  night. 


'11 
I 

i  1 


I 


«7!|*<i7a3<¥»**;*-'^J'>'»  T^V  if*W>W-*»n»»^wy»w<r>»~ 


■T 


tuB  ii« 


i  *  I 


318 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Long  before  breakfast,  tbe  three  hunters  were  off  on 
their  wearisome  and  perilous  undertaking. 

That  day  passed  slowly,  and  the  next,  and  the  next, 
the  wolves  returning  each  night  with  their  dismal 
serenade. 

The  stock  of  provisions  diminished  with  frightful  rapid- 
ity. Mr.  Dutton  prepared  to  start  out  himself  on  the 
morrow.  More  than  one  look  was  cast  on  Carlo,  whose 
brown  eyes  were  raised  piteously  to  his  young  master,  as 
if  he  understood  that,  in  case  of  Solomon's  failure  to 
replenish  the  larder,  he  must  be  sacrificed  to  save  the 
lives  of  the  rest. 

They  tried  not  to  think  of  such  a  possi])ility.  and 
caressed  the  noble  Newfoundland  with  unusual  tenderness, 
as  if  to  atone  for  the  suggestion  which  had  entered  their 
minds. 

Meanwhile,  what  of  Solomon  and  the  two  Canadians  ? 


CHAPTER  XXVU. 


FOR   LIF-E    OR   DEATH. 


N  leaving  the  camp  at  about  ii'ne  o'clock — or 
an  hour  bet'or(>  sunrise  —  on  the  niornhig  after 
C'hristmavS,  tlie  three  men  had  proceeded  directly 
down  the  hanks  of  the  hrouk,  following  the  route  l)_v  which 
the  party  had  come.  The  wolves  had  withdrawn  to  the 
depths  of  forest,  as  is  their  custom  in  tlie  daytime,  and 
were  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Fortunately,  the  snow  on  the 
ground  was  still  of  only  moderate  depth,  and  the  Ijrook 
was  open  except  in  the  deeper  pools.  Colder  weather 
might  now  be  expected  at  any  time,  Solomon  know,  and 
the  reflection  added  speed  to  his  powerful  stride. 

Each  man  had  in  his  pouch  a  scanty  three-days  supply 
of  pemmican.  If  no  game  had  been  found  by  that  time 
—  why,  Solomon  reasoned  that  they  might  as  well  die 
in  the  woods,  like  Avounded  deer,  as  go  back  and  perish 
wdth  their  friends. 

The  morning  was  fair,  and  the  hunters  made  good 
time.  Unencumbered  by  baggage  or  women,  they  covered 
nearly  the  whole  distance  to  the  ravine  of  which  Solo- 
mon had  spoken  in  a  single  day. 

319 


w«m 


■T,«W  ifeww««w*'iSEr»*'«»s*«W-i*^r.i««^^ 


320 


■////■;  iii:i>  }fou.\TAix  OF  Alaska. 


if 


V 


,1v 


I 


i   ^. 


At  night  they  biiiU  a  luigo  nr(\  and  cncaiupetl  in  tlu> 
open  ah',  near  the  hrook.  All  three  were  terribly  cold 
before  morning.  l)ut  they  ate  their  penuniean  and  resumed 
their  miirch.  It  was  no  bov"s-i)liiv  in  whieh  thev  were 
enuaued.  it  was  lil'e  or  death  to  themselves  and  those 
they  had  left  behind. 

Hy  ten  oehjck  tluy  had  reached  the  gulch,  and.  with- 
out stojjping.  turned  into  it.  Their  route  now  lay  up-hill, 
and  w^•ls  nuich  more  ditlicult.  They  managed  to  cover 
four  miles,  however,  before  they  stopped  to  lunch. 

While  they  were  silently  munching  their  dried  meat,  a 
twig  cracked  not  far  away. 

The  suddenness  with  which  all  three  pairs  of  jaws 
ceased  to  move  was  almost  comical. 

Three  right  hands  cautiously  grasped  the  stocks  of  as 
many  guns,  and  the  hunters  watched  the  woods  like  so 
many  panthers  waiting  for  their  prey. 

^Yhile  they  looked,  a  magnificent  animal  emerged  from 
the  spruce  growth  and  stood  an  instant  by  the  Ijrook. 
Before  a  muzzle  could  be  raised,  he  had  caught  both  scent 
and  sight  of  the  strangers,  and  bounded  forward  into  the 
cover  like  an  arrow.     Tt  was  a  full-sized  buck  caribou. 

The  men  looked  at  each  other  for  a  moment  in  blank 
silence. 

Then  Solomon  issued  his  orders. 

"  You  creep  raound  that  way,"  said  he  to  Joe,  indi- 
cating the  circuitous  route  he  wished  him  to  take,  "  and 
you,  Jim,  go  raound  the  other  side  of  the  valley.     I'll 


'.'"' 


it 


I 


FOR   LIFE  OR  DEATH. 


321 


foller  the  brook  stniiyht  up.  We'll  meet,  say,  two  mile 
above  here.     See  ?  " 

The  two  nodded  intelligently,  examined  the  locks  of 
their  pieces,  and  disappeared  almost  as  quickly  as  had  the 
startled  caribou. 

With  Ijeating  heart  in  spite  of  his  long  experience  in 
the  woods,  Solomon  started  up  the  bed  of  the  brook.  It 
was  very  hard  walking  indeed.  The  stones  of  the  stream 
were  coated  with  ice,  which  in  its  turn  was  covered  with 
a  thin  layer  of  snow.  Again  and  again  the  hunter  slipped 
and  stumbled,  bruising  his  hands  and  limbs,  and  ureiu'h- 
ing  his  ankles.  Before  long  he  .struck  abundant  '•  sign  " 
of  caribou.  The  snow  was  fairly  trampled  hard  in  some 
places,  where  the  water  was  open,  and  the  animals  had 
often  come  to  drink. 

Creeping  cautiously  along,  he  worked  his  way  upward, 
now  crouching  beneath  snow-laden  fir-boughs,  now  walk- 
ing upright  for  a  few  steps,  now  crawling  on  his  hands 
and  knees.  After  about  a  mile  of  this  sort  of  work,  the 
ground  became  moi'e  level.  The  brook  Avas  frozen  solid, 
and  formed  an  admirable  highway,  of  which  the  stags  had 
evidently  availed  themselves. 

A  sudden  turn  of  the  banks  brought  the  hunter  out 
upon  the  margin  of  a  small  pond  or  lake,  perhaps  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  long  by  an  eighth  wide.  The  hills  rose 
precipitously  from  its  shores  on  either  side,  giving  it 
almost  the  appearance  of  a  broad  canon,  and  forming  a 
scene  of  striking  grandeur. 


"'^tr'^'"*  •«■«*■'»"''■'""! lJ"l^'X.m»'^m£'~^-y'^^  «wiwi«ii»*s®wi«w!ww..:4:»JS,.a(B»s?fl^^     ^■M:,m''i^iji^^.-tim'mm'm::'^<^- 


322 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


Ml 


W  I  'iV 


But  Soloiuon  gave  not  a  tliouglit  to  the  picturesque 
qualities  of  tiie  landscape.  He  had  dropped  (lat  upon  his 
stomach  beneath  a  clunii)  of  half-grown  willows,  and  was 
peering  eagerly  out  through  their  stems  at  some  object  or 
objects  at  the  further  end  of  the  opening. 

At  first  he  thought  he  saw  Joe  and  Jim,  and  his  heart 
sank.  An  instant  later  he  dii>«covered  the  true  character 
of  the  moving  creatures  just  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  at 
the  head  of  the  pond.  They  had  four  legs  apiece,  and 
spi'eading  antlers.  They  were  of  a  grayish  brown  color 
—  about  as  large  as  goud-sized  ponies  —  and  had  each  a 
light-colored  mass  of  long  hair  depending  from  the  neck. 
The  moment  Solomon  got  a  good  look  at  them,  he  recog- 
nized the  animals.  Beyond  a  doubt,  they  were  caribou,  a 
fine  herd  of  at  least  a  dozen  individuals.  They  had  as 
yet  taken  no  alarm,  but  were  feeding  in  leisurely  enough 
fashion  on  dried  grasses,  projecting  from  the  snow,  and 
the  tender  bark  of  willow  shooL; 

Solomon  determined  to  wait  until  the  Indians  should 
surround  them,  rather  than  nuke  the  attempt  at  stalking. 
By  good  luck  the  light  wind  was  in  his  favor,  blowing 
directly  from  the  game. 

Assuming  as  easy  a  position  as  was  consistent  with  con- 
cealment, the  backwoodsman  set  himself  to  wait  patiently 
for  some  action  on  the  part  of  his  allies.  He  was  spared 
a  long  delay,  however,  by  a  new  crowd  of  actors  in  the 
scene. 

Solomon  at  first  did  not  understand  the  movements  of 


1 


FOli    LIFE  on    DKATIl. 


823 


the  caribou.  They  tossed  their  lieuds,  and  made  little 
starts  to  and  fro  as  il'  in  oveat  alarm,  it  coidd  not  l)o 
from  any  j)roximity  of  the  Indians,  for  it  was  simply 
inipossibli'  for  thoni  to  have  surmounted  thos(^  steep  hills. 
and  reached  the  end  of  the  canon,  in  so  short  a  time. 

Suddenly  a  sound  broke  the  stillness  of  the  Alaskan 
solitude.  Il  was  a  dismal  noise,  a  .succession  of  lonL!,'., 
uncanny  howls,  like  those  of  a  dog  in  distress. 

Solomon  knew  well  enou''h  now  what  was  th(>  matter; 
and  indeed  his  doubts,  had  any  reuiained,  would  have 
been  solved  a  moment  later,  when  at  least  thirty  dark 
gray  animals  were  seen  leaping  out  of  the  woods,  and 
dashing  around  the  terrified  caribou.  It  was  an  uncom- 
monly large  pack  of  wolves,  .such  as  had  fattened  them- 
selves on  Mr.  Button's  store  of  pennnican,  and  sent 
Solomon  ott"  on  this  expedition.  The  very  best  pemuiiean 
is  made  from  caribou  nieat ;  this  pack  was  more  particular 
than  the  first,  and  preferred  their  meat  fresh. 

Do  not  suppose  they  intended  to  attack  the  whole  hei-d. 
or  any  member  of  it,  so  long  as  it  remained  compact. 
They  were  far  too  wary  and  too  cowardly  for  any  such 
procedure.  With  red  tongues  hanging  out,  ami  with 
yelps  and  howls,  they  made  feints  of  charging  at  the 
youngest  and  feeblest  does,  while  others  of  the  pack  kept 
galloping  around  them,  to  keep  them  from  taking  to  the 
woods. 

At  last  the  crisis  came.  A  fine  doe  and  two  fawns, 
nearly  full-grown,  retreated  a  few  paces  before  a  furious 


■:y«sviiiiiiwMiiNwi,ii."    "."j  ^r^.m'T^g^srr.:!^^ mmamm>^!^gm*>smmi-m&mi!(mmi'«'   vimmmm  mmo'^frnwH.-' 


r  ^  T 


324 


ririC  IIKD   MOUNT AI\  OF  ALASKA. 


lh 


% 


\4 


.1 


1  La 

i 


onslaught  from  their  assailants.  Instantly  half  a  dozen 
gaunt  fellows  leaped  into  the  gap,  and  cut  them  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  herd.  The  three  helpless  creatures  ran  off 
a  few  steps,  looked  in  vain  for  help  fnjm  their  trembling 
•companions,  then  made  a  sudden  break,  and  started  at 
full  speed  down  the  lake. 

This  was  exactly  what  the  wolves  wanted.  In  full  cry 
they  started  after  their  prey,  over  the  ice. 

Solomon  rose  to  his  feet,  as  he  saw  this  denouement  of 
the  little  drama  at  the  head  of  the  valley,  and.  stepping 
boldly  out  into  open  ground,  prepared  to  take  part  in  it 
himself.  Neither  pursued  nor  pursuers  caught  sight  of 
him  until  within  less  than  sixty  rods.  The  doe  tried  to 
check  herself,  and  threw  herself  fairly  down  on  her 
haunches,  her  two  fawns  following  her  example,  but 
the  momentum  of  all  three  carried  them  over  the  ice 
to  within  easy  range  of  a  riHe  .that  had  rarely  missed 
its  aim. 

Just  as  the  largest  caribou  scrambled  to  her  feet,  and 
headed  for  the  side  of  the  pond,  there  was  a  sharp  report, 
and,  with  one  leap,  she  fell  almost  in  her  tracks.  The 
youngest  one  paused  an  instant  irresolutely,  when  half  a 
dozen  wolves  were  upon  it.  and  dragged  it  to  the  ice ; 
again  the  report  of  the  gun.  and  the  third  of  the  trio  fell, 
while  the  cowardl}'  wolves  scattered,  snarling  and  yelping, 
as  Solomon  came  running-  toward  them,  shouting  and 
waving  his  arms. 

All  this  had  occurred  within  the  space  of  half  a  niin- 


1 


TIIKU'C    -\VAS    A    SIIAKl'    liKI'OUr,    ANI-    WITH    UNK    LKAl'    SHE    FELL. 


il 


a  nun- 


:«.r»'^*»r^T:i.'V 


*?irg 


I 


1 


FOR  LIFE  OR  DEATH. 


327 


lite ;  in  fifteen  seconds  more,  all  three  of  the  caribou  were 
put  out  of  their  suffering. 

Solomon  replaced  his  knife  in  its  sheath,  and  looked 
around  for  Joe  and  Jim.  Here  was  meat  enough  to  last 
for  weeks  to  come ;  but  could  it  be  carried  to  the  camp, 
with  twenty  miles  of  rough  ground  and  two  indei)endent 
packs  of  half-starved  wolves  between  ?  This  was  the 
question  which  passed  through  Baronov's  niind  as  he  stood 
there  on  the  ice,  in  the  midst  of  his  booty. 


3 

ft 


if 


•mrt^  8»a«yyijgT«(ry^%f.!iiiiyiiyy>^^ 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


I 


!    i 


I 

m 


m 


I 


r,s 


WOLF   AGAINST   MAN. 

IHE  wolves  were  evidently  thoroughly  frightened 
by  tlie  presence  of  the  hunter  and  the  reports  of 
his  gun.  Besides,  they  refreslied  themselves 
with  a  light  lunch  as  soon  as  they  gained  the  shelter  of 
the  woods.  Wlien  Solomon  heard  a  fresh  series  of  wolf- 
ish howls,  he  knew  what  they  were  about. 

The  six  members  of  the  pack  who  had  leaped  upon  the 
fawn  and  torn  it  had  smeared  themselves  with  blood  in 
the  process.  Thofe  red  patches  were  the  seals  of  their 
death-warrants.  All  six  of  them  were  sure  to  fall  be- 
neath the  fangs  of  their  famished  connvides. 

The  hunter  lost  no  time  in  preparing  the  carcasses  of 
the  caribou  for  transportation.  He  had  already  carved 
off  the  hind-quarters  of  the  largest,  together  with  a  few 
choice  slices  from  the  ribs,  when  Joe  and  Jim  put  in  their 
appearance,  running  down  the  pond  at  the  top  of  their 
speed.  When  they  saw  the  three  carcasses  stretched  out 
on  the  ice,  they  made  no  connnent  whatever,  Init  imme- 
diately set  to  work  on  the  two  as  yet  untouched.  As  they 
labored,  they  paused  occasionally  to  suck  the  marrow  of 
the  larger  bones,  which  is  very  sweet  and  palatable,  and 

.•528 


WOLF  AGAINST  MAy. 


32i) 


almost  invariably  eaten  raw  by  tho  natives.  They  also 
removed  from  under  the  skin  of  the  l)ack  and  croup  of 
the  two  fawns,  both  of  which  were  males,  a  fatty  deposit, 
some  three  inches  thick,  called  by  French  Canadian  hunt- 
ers depouille. 

This,  Solomon  knew,  was  an  essential  element  in  well 
prepared  pennnican,  being  pounded  in  with  the  dried  ilesh 
of  the  animal. 

Just  as  they  were  making  ready  to  start,  heavily 
loaded,  the  down-easter  was  observed  to  stoo})  and  sever 
the  bladder  from  each  of  the  remains  before  him.  Tiiese 
he  tied  on  to  the  rest  of  his  load  —  for  what  purpose  we 
shall  soon  see. 

''  And  naow,  boys,"  said  Solomon,  as  the  three  started 
off  in  high  spirits,  "  we  want  to  jest  pull  fer  home  in  good 
style." 

'•  Pull  "  they  did,  although,  encumbered  as  they  were 
with  their  heavy  loads,  they  could  not  move  as  fast  as 
during  the  morniiig.  Still,  by  dint  of  perseverance  and 
steady  work,  they  managed  to  reach  their  last  night's 
camping-ground  before  stopping  to  rest. 

The  tirst  thing  Solomon  did  was  to  pull  open  the  ashes 
with  which  he  had  prudently  covered  the  live  coals  of  the 
fire  that  morning,  thus  saving  an  extra  match.  Next,  he 
hung  each  of  the  bladders  he  had  saved  to  the  swaying 
end  of  an  alder  withe,  which  he  stuck  into  the  ground  a 
few  feet  aw^ay  from  the  camp.  Neither  of  his  companions 
needed  to  ask  the  reason  for  these  singular  objects ;  they 


Mmimmmiiwmm. ..  I  ii  mi'^m: 


.  .^!sy^i?K^^^MiWPS^^ 


pi 


830 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


\U: 


M!v„, 


I 


f' 


had  often  protected  themselves  for  a  niglit  in  the  »voods 
by  a  "  scare-wolf  "  of  the  same  sort.  Fierce  and  vora- 
cious as  is  this  ugly  animal,  he  shares  with  the  New 
England  crow  its  terror  of  any  novel  or  unusual  contri- 
vance, such  as  a  bit  of  fluttering  ribbon,  a  trailing  string, 
or  a  Ijladder  bobbing  about  at  the  end  of  a  rod. 

Their  hungry  neighbor.'>  howled  about  the  three 
sleepers  l)y  the  hour  that  night,  aggravated  by  the  smell 
of  fr-'sh  meat,  but  kep*.  at  a  respectful  distance. 

Early  in  the  morning,  the  hunters  were  on  the  move 
again,  after  a  hasty  breakfast  from  their  original  supply 
of  pemmican.  During  the  day  they  made  ten  miles,  up- 
hill, over  rough  chantry.  Each  of  them  carried  upwards 
of  eighty  pounds  of  meat,  in  addition  to  his  rifle  and 
ammunition.  They  camped  that  night  within  five  miles 
of  the  huts. 

Soon  after  midnight,  snow  began  to  fall,  and,  by  the 
time  the}'  could  see  to  wvilk,  the  storm  was  raging  furi- 
ously, doubling  the  labor  and  the  dangers  of  the  journey. 
Once  or  twice  they  heard  the  distant  howl  of  a  wolf,  but 
were  unmolested  until  within  half  a  mile  of  camp. 

'"Here  they  come  —  the  .same  pack  o'  varmints  that 
carried  off  the  meat."  cried  Solomon,  as  a  dozen  great 
doggish  forms  came  pouring  over  a  high  bank  just  ahead. 
'•  They've  been  hanging  raound  here  ever  sence,  I  'low." 

The  wolves  fairly  filled  the  bed  of  the  brook  in  front, 
and  showed  no  disposition  to  yield  at  the  approach  of  the 
men. 


fVOLF  AG  A  I. \  SI    MA.\. 


331 


''-  Let  me  have  half  your  load,  and  give  Jim  the  otlier 
half,"  said  Solomon  to  the  foremost  Indian,  shaking  his 
head  as  he  saw  the  stubborn  stand  taken  by  the  (.-nemy. 
'•  Naow,  Joe,  you  let  drive  right  into  'em,  and  see  if  you 
can't  scare  'em  a  bit." 

Joe  fired  and  rushed  at  the  paek  Avitli  hideous  whoops 
and  frantic  gestures.  One  of  the  wolves  fell  mortally 
wounded,  and  the  rest  leaped  up  to  the  top  of  the  bank, 
where  they  paused  and  eyed  the  men  hungrily,  as  they 
staggered  along  under  their  increased  burdens. 

"  Impudent  critters!  "  growled  Solomon.  "  I'd  like  to 
wring  their  necks,  every  one  of  'em  !  " 

The  moment  the  travellers  were  jiast,  the  pack  fell 
upon  their  wounded  brother,  and  speedily  ati;  him  up. 
Then  they  clo.sed  in  upon  the  men,  as  before,  except  that 
they  were  behind  instead  of  in  front. 

The  same  manoeuvre  was  repeated  by  Joe,  with  le.ss 
satisfactory  result  than  at  first.  They  hardly  gained  a 
dozen  steps  before  the  pack  were  close  at  their  heels.  At 
any  moment  a  rush  might  be  made,  and  all  the  precious 
supplies  lost,  if  not  human  life. 

Just  as  the  situation  was  beginning  to  assume  a  de- 
cidedly serious  aspect,  a  rattling  volley  of  musketry  wa.s 
heard,  followed  by  joyous  shouts  from  the  front.  Three 
wolves  fell  in  their  tracks,  and,  while  the  cannibal  pack 
were  making  a  meal  of  them,  the  relief  party,  consisting 
of  Mr.  Dutton,  Riehard.  Robert,  and  Peeschee,  came 
rushing  down  the  trail  to  meet  them. 


WT:tiSi'\ 


Ti: 


PWi 


332 


THE  RED  MOFNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


i'fffli  * 


"  We  heard  the  reports  of  3'our  gun,"  they  explained,  as 
they  hastily  divided  the  loads  of  the  two  nearly  exhausted 
men  among  themselves  ;  "  and  we  were  prepared  to  start 
oil  on  a  trip  of  our  own.  any  way,  as  a  last  hope.  What 
a  glorious  supply  —  two  hundred  pounds,  at  the  very  least  I 
Where  did  you  get  them  ?  Are  you  completehj  used  up  ? 
Here,  Jim,  let  me  take  your  rifle,  poor  fellow.  Oh,  Carlo, 
you're  safe,  my  hoy  I  " 

And  Rohert  fairly  cried  like  a  bahy,  as  he  stooped  and 
hugged  the  faithful  dog,  who  had  come,  with  the  rest,  to 
the  rescue  of  the  rescuers. 

For  the  next  two  days  the  camp  was  a  scene  of  joyous 
activity.  Outside,  the  wind  roared,  and  the  snow  fi'll 
steadily,  drifting  deep  around  the  two  huts,  and  making 
them  warmer  than  they  had  been  at  any  time  during  the 
winter.  The  moat  was  cut  into  long,  thin  strips  and  hung 
in  one  of  the  chimnevs,  where  a  huge  column  of  smoke 
was  kept  going,  night  and  day.  No  better  manufactiu'er 
of  penuuican  could  be  found  than  Solomon,  who  was  now 
in  his  element. 

As  fast  as  the  meat  was  ready,  it  was  stored  awa}-  in  a 
little  cellar  hole,  which  was  dug  out  under  the  flooring  of 
the  cooler  of  the  two  huts.  In  this  way  over  a  hundred 
pounds  of  fine  dried  meat  was  preserved  for  future  use. 
The  vegetables  and  small  fruits  had  not  been  harmed  by 
the  wolves. 

Chloe  announced  in  woful  tones,  one  morning  early  in 
January,  that  the  tea  was  all  gone ;  but  Peeschee  there- 


T 


iroLF  ,u;,i/.v.sv'  max. 


n:\:] 


upon  pulled  down  his  procio"-  bundles  of  Lahnulor  Tea. 
from  which  he  showed  the  negro  woman  how  to  eoneoct 
a  beverage  which,  if  not  ecjual  to  that  produced  by  the 
famous  Japanese  herb,  was  at  least  hot  and  refreshing, 
and  not  at  all  unpalatable.  Peeschee,  moreover,  went  out 
for  an  hour  or  two,  one  day,  and  brought  in  a  big  pouch 
full  of  a  crinkled,  black  substance,  which  Richard,  ou 
inspecting  it,  pronounced  to  be  the  "edible  lichen"  of  the 
Russian  fur-hunters.  Ou  being  boiled,  this  gave  a  rather 
sticky  but  not  ill-tasting  dish,  somewhat  resembling  .sago. 

Now  and  tben  a  rabbit  was  knocked  over,  and  afforded 
a  pleasant  ''•ariety  in  the  monotonous  regime  to  which  our 
adventurers  had  for  some  time  been  reduced. 

The  snow  increased  in  depth,  after  a  week's  thaw  in 
January,  and  the  mercury  dropped  nntil  it  marked  40° 
below  zero,  beyond  which  Mr.  Button's  piovoking  ther- 
mometer, like  Gilbert  White's,  would  not  register. 

In  March  a  few  puffs  of  warmer  breeze  from  the  south, 
and  the  swelling  buds  of  willow  and  alder,  told  that 
spring  was  coming.  The  wolves  no  longer  troubled  them, 
having  learned  at  last  that  too  nuich  familiarity  with 
these  luunan  intruders  meant  a  flash  of  lightning,  a  peal 
of  thunder,  and  sudden  death.  Caribou  afforded  easier 
prey,  and  off  streamed  the  remnant  of  the  pack  to  some 
part  of  the  country  where  they  could  obtain  better  returns 
for  less  labor  than  around  the  Button  camp. 

Game  now  became  plenty,  and  famine  was  no  longer 
feared.     The  days  lengthened,  and  snow-banks  began  to 


!1 


^*m»*i^*m'T^^smmm>mm»»mKM^^ 


334 


TUB  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


it^  ; 


If 


■\ , 


I  ( 

I I 

t  ■ 


disappear  before  the  coaxing  rays  of  the  sun,  which  shone 
on  them  for  twelve  hours  together. 

In  April  there  was  such  a  freshet  in  the  little  brook 
near  by  that  the  safety  of  the  huts  themselves  was  threat- 
ened, and  the  lire  in  one  of  them  was  actually  put  out. 
one  night,  by  invading  rills  of  melted  snow. 

On  May  Day  a  sound  was  heard  which  brought  tears  to 
the  eyes  of  Mrs.  Dutton.  It  was  a  robin's  whistle,  half 
cheery,  half  plaintive,  reminding  her  of  the  old  home- 
orchard,  where  she  had  played  in  the  tall  grass,  and  picked 
buttercups,  when  she  was  a  little  girl. 

And  now  it  was  time  to  make  preparations  for  an  earlj- 
start  southward.  Flossie's  weakness  had  entirely  disap- 
peared, and  she  was  never  in  better  spirits  or  health.  It 
was  the  same  with  all  the  rest. 

On  the  last  evening  before  setting  out  anew  on  their 
long  journey,  now  nearing  its  end,  the  whole  party  stood 
before  the  door  of  the  little  hut.  looking  wistfully  along 
the  path  they  were  to  take  on  the  morrow.  There  were 
the  mountains,  covered,  as  they  had  ever  been  since  last 
autumn,  with  seemingly  eternal  banks  of  clouds. 

Suddeidy  Mr.  Dutton  seized  his  wife's  arm.  His  face 
was  lighted  with  a  strange  expression.  His  hand 
trembled. 

'•  What  is  it,  dear  ?  " 

He  pointed,  without  a  word,  to  the  eastern  sky. 

Oh.  wonder  of  wonders  !  Through  a  rift  in  the  snowy 
banks  of  mist  there  towered,  faintly  visible  in  the  rays 


WOLF  AGAINST  MAN. 


335 


of  the  setting  sun,  a  single  peak,  mounting  into  the  blue 
sky,  one  hundred  miles  away. 

It  was  of  the  most  exquisite  rose-color,  as  fair  to  look 
upon  as  the  blush  upon  a  girl's  cheek. 

"Can  it  be?—" 

"  The  Red  Mountain  !    The  Red  Mountain  of  Alaska  !  " 


m 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


OVEU    THE    ICE. 

JELL,  I  swan  !  Vd  mther  travel  tew  miles  through 
the  woods  than  one  on  this  ice.  Do  you 
s'pose  'twill  last  long,  cap'n?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  can't  tell,  Solomon.  If  this  glacier  is 
what  is  meant  bv  those  wavy  cross-lines  on  the  map,  we 
shall  prol)ably  get  over  it  in  the  course  of  three  or  four 
hours." 

Solomon  groaned  so  comically  that  Flossie  laughed  out- 
right. 

"  /  don't  mind  it  a  bit,"  said  she,  merrily.  "  This 
reminds  me  of  when  I  was  in  Switzerland,  Solomon.  ^Ye 
often  walked  on  a  glacier,  thougli  none  of  them  were  as 
large  as  this." 

The  Buttons,  you  see.  were  fairly  en  route  once  more. 
Not  without  a  feeling  of  sadness,  they  bade  farewell  to 
the  huts  that  had  sheltered  them  so  long,  knowing  the 
extreme  improbability  of  their  ever  beholding  them  again. 

In  easy  stages  they  had  journeyed  to  the  eastward. 
After  al)out  a  week  of  steady  ascent,  they  had  come  to  a 
bi'oad  river  of  ice,  bordered  by  immense  moraines,  or 
banks  of  stone  and  gravel,  pushed  up  by  the  glacier.     No 

.3.36 


OVER  THE  ICE. 


OIK!  could  doubt  tliat  this  was  tlio  one  remaining  object 
indicated  on  the  niop  between  them  and  the  lut'ty  peak 
which  was  tiieir  goah 

They  had  caught  several  glimpses  of  the  mountain, 
which  did  not  appear  so  red  as  they  drew  near  to  it. 

A  dark  coluuni  of  smoke  hung  u\xt  it  continually,  and 
now  and  then  rumblings  and  even  sharj)  i-eports  could  be 
heard,  denoting  that  it  was  an  active  vo'  auo. 

As  this  became  evident,  some  new  thought  could  be 
plainly  seen  to  ])e  working  in  the  lieutenant's  mind.  lie 
made  repeated  examinations  of  Peeschee's  map.  compared 
it  with  a  small  tiavelling-map  of  Ahiska  carried  by  his 
brother,  and  covered  the  backs  of  both  with  figures. 
Something  perplexed  and  troubled  him,  but  as  yet  he 
held  his  peace,  and  the  others  refrained  from  disturbing 
him  with  questions. 

The  journey  now  became  really  perilous,  as  well  as 
exceedingly  laborious.  They  could  only  advance  five  or 
six  miles  a  day  after  they  left  the  glacier,  for  the  ground 
was  encumbered  with  underbrush  and  fallen  trees,  the 
valleys  were  filled  with  soft  and  treacherous  nuid,  and 
thin  layers  of  moss  often  covered  a  deep  sub-stratum  of 
slippery  ice,  on  which  the  negro  woman,  in  particular, 
floundered  about  like  a  seal. 

Besides,  the  air  was  steadily  growing  rarer  as  well  as 
more  chilly.  By  his  pocket  barometer,  which  formed  a 
part  of  the  same  instrument  with  the  thermometer,  Mr. 
Button  found,  on   the  tenth  day  from  winter-quarters, 


i'«i!' 


i 


Mil 


i  u 


338 


THE  RED  MOUXTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


that  they  had  actually  reached  an  altitude  of  ten  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  He  consulted  seri- 
ously with  his  brother  and  Solomon  as  to  the  propriety 
and  feasil)ility  of  leaving  the  women  while  the  rest  should 
go  on,  accomplish  the  necessary  prospecting,  and  return 
to  them, — the  whole  expedition  then  to  proceed  directly 
toward  the  coast. 

Richard  agreed  tliat  this  would  eventually  be  a  wise 
metliod  of  procedure,  and  two  days  later  a  comfortable 
little  brush  camp  was  built  in  accordance  with  this  plan. 
Joe  and  Jim  were  left  with  Mrs.  Button,  Chloe,  Flossie, 
Nat,  and  Ted.  The  other  six  pushed  on  toward  the 
granite  peak,  which  now  towered  into  the  clouds  directly 
before  them.  At  the  end  of  the  third  day  they  returned, 
their  pockets  bulging  with  ore.  Rol)ert  told  the  story  of 
their  visit  to  the  great  object  of  the  whole  trip,  as  follows. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


CONCLUSION. 


|HEN  we  left  you.  mother."  lie  l)egan.  takiiifr  a 
coinfortable  position  hcfore  tlic  fiiv.  "we 
dropix'd  all  care  l"or  any  si)e('ial  trail,  and   just 

put  straight  for  the  Red  Mountain  itself,  right  before  our 

eves. 

"'  You've  noticed  that  it  hasn't  seemed  so  red  lately  ? 
Well  we'd  all  thought  of  the  same  thing,  but  nobody 
liked  to  say  anything  about  it.  We  crossed  a  small  gla- 
cier, about  three  miles  from  here,  and  pretty  soon  met 
another,  coming  straight  down  from  our  mountain. 
Peeschee  himself  did.i't  know  wIktc  he  was.  for  he'd 
never  been  there  before.  Th<.  cliff  wlu^r.'  he  picked  up 
his  rocks  la.st  fall  was  round  further  to  the  north,  he  .said. 

"We  climbed  up  over  the  moraine,  which  was  a  huge 
one,  and  started  straight  up  the  glacier,  instead  of 
across  it. 

'• '  I've  noticed,  Dick.'  says  father,  after  a  while,  '  that 
Avo  don't  hear  the  volcano  as  plainly  as  we  did.  Do  you 
supp(js(,'  it's  dying  down  a  little  ?' 

'• '  I'm  afraid  not,'  says  Uncle  Richard. 

"'Why  r//'w/V//' 

3:19 


- '  »ejiBr«kMw^w-.enia 


'   '11 


■i^i*riilfgiiMi*>*i»i*  II 


n,J 


340 


THE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


i  h 


u 


r 


iff 


" '  Because  —  I'll  tell  you  before  long,  if  what  I  "^m 
afraid  of  turns  out  to  be  true.' 

•'  Uncle  looked  troubled  when  he  said  this,  a..  .  it  wor- 
ried us  all  a  little.  Somehow,  we  had  a  feeling,  a  pre- 
sentiment I  suppose  you'd  call  it,  that  all  our  trip  was  to 
be  for  nothing.     Still,  we  kept  on. 

"  That  night  we  camped  on  the  moraine,  where  we 
went  to  get  off  the  ice.  which  was  chilling  us  through. 
We  hadn't  a  spark  of  fire,  and  I  didn't  know  but  we'd 
freeze  to  death  before  morning.  Oh.  what  a  long 
night  I  " 

Robert  spread  out  his  hands  to  the  fire  as  he  sj)oke,  and 
shivered  at  the  bare  recollection. 

'•  Well,  }  ou  may  be  sure  we  were  on  our  way  bright 
and  early  the  next  morning.  We  left  the  glacier  at  about 
ten  o'clock,  and  reached  the  foot  of  the  great  peak  itself 
an  hour  later.  You  can  imagine  how  we  felt,  mother, 
hiying  our  hands  on  the  veritable  Red  Mountain  of 
Alaska,  that  we  had  l^een  travelling  a  year  to  reach. 

'•  x\nd  now  comes  the  queerest  part  of  the  story." 

Mrs.  Dutton.  Florence,  and  indeed  all  who  had  been 
left  behind,  leaned  forward  eagerly  to  listen. 

'•When  we  came  to  examine  the  rock,  it  was — not 
cinnaliur  at  all !  " 

The  faces  of  the  listeners  fell.  It  was  a  terrible  disap- 
pointment to  them,  as  it  had  been  to  the  men  when  they 
made  the  discovery. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Dutton,  heaving  a  deep  sigh,  as  she 


CONCLUSIOX. 


341 


saw  her  dreams  of  wealth  depart,  "  I  suppose  wo  ought  to 
be  so  thankful  to  have  you  back  again,  and  to  have 
escaped  all  the  fearful  dangers  of  last  winter,  that  we 
shouldn't  complain  when  we  find  it  has  all  been  a  wild- 
goose  chase." 

"Nevermind,"  said  Flossie,  trying  to  be  brave  under 
the  disappointment.  '•  We've  enough  left,  papa ;  and 
perhaps  it  would  have  made  us  proud  and  disagreeable 
if  we  had  been  awfully  rich." 

''  I  did  hopa."  began  poor  Mrs.  Dutton.  who  found  it 
hard  to  relinquish  all  the  plans  she  had  made.  "  I  did 
hope  we  might  endow  an  institution,  and  call  it  '  Dutton 
University,'  but  there  !  —  I'll  try  not  to  think  of  it  again. 
Did  you  bring  money  enough  to  pay  our  fares  home,  John, 
from  Sitka  ?  " 

"  There,  there,  Ella  !  don't  take  on  about  it,"  said  Mr. 
Dutton  ;  and  he  actually  laughed. 

His  wife  looked  up  sympathetically  at  what  she  thought 
his  heroic  effort  to  be  cheerful ;  but  there  was  actually  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye.  It  ivas  provoking,  you  know,  when 
she  was  trying  so  hard  to  bear  up  mider  this  culminating 
misfortune. 

"  I  really  don't  see,  John,"  she  began,  in  a  Inut  tone. 
her  lips  quivering  a  little,  "  what  you  can  find  anuising  in 
it.  To  say  nothing  of  my  having  dragged  myself  a  thou- 
sand miles  or  more  through  these  woods,  and  suffering 
such  torments  of  anxiety  as  I  have  about  Floss.  I  ha  re 
had  my  hopes  raised  about  that  mountain.     I  didn't  mean 


342 


THE  I! El)   MOUy'lAIX   OF  ALASKA. 


i  I. 


to  think  of  iinything  beyond  your  houlth ;  that's  why  I 
came,  to  take  —  care  —  of  you  —  " 

Here  the  poor  woman,  worn  with  the  final  anxiety  of 
the  last  few  days,  actually  sobl^ed.  The  reaction  was  too 
great,  and  she  was  unable  to  go  on. 

Now,  Mr.  Button  was  not  one  of  that  sort  of  men  who 
think  it  fun  to  "tease."  He  recognized  the  fact,  as 
every  true,  manly  boy  will,  that  giving  pain  to  any  one 
under  the  name  of  "  teasing  "  is  a  disgraceful  and  cruel 
sport. 

So  he  just  crossed  right  over  to  his  wife,  sat  down  on 
the  l)ig  log  l^eside  her,  and  drew  her  head  down  on  his 
shoulder. 

''  There,  there,  dear  !  "  said  he,  "  it  isn't  quite  so  bad  as 
you  think.  I've  been  trying  to  tell  you,  but  you  wouldn't 
listen  to  comfort.     Who  said  we  were  disappointed?  " 

'•  Why,  Robert,  here  !  " 

"■  No,  indeed.  He  merely  said  the  mountain  was  not 
one  of  cinnabar.  You  stopped  him,  my  dear,  before  he 
could  go  on  to  tell  you  that,  although  that  fairy  dream  of 
a  whole  mountain  of  wealth  (which  I  don't  believe  either 
of  us  really  entertained  in  our  serious  moments)  could  not 
be  realized,  we  have  not  been  left  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  our  lives  in  abject  poverty,  nor  yet  in  that  condition  of 
well-to-do-ness  which  we  have  enjoyed  at  Sheldon.  I  am 
not  sure  that  '  Dutton  University  '  will  prove  a  myth 
after  all,  Ella." 

"  What  do  you  mean.  John  ?  " 


to^■(n■sJo^'. 


343 


Mrs.  Button  sat  up  straight  and  dried  hor  tears  with 
marvellous  alacrity. 

"  Whj .  don't  yon  see,  mother,"  broke  in  Hugh,  takin- 
up  the  story  where  Rob  had  left  it,  "  there  nii-Wit  be 
something  else  there  almost  as  good  as  a  mercury  moun- 
tam  ?  Just  as  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  peak,  we  heard 
the  old  volcano  once  more,  and  the  rumbling  and  all. 
The  queer  look  came  into  Uncle  Dick's  face  again. 

"  '  Well,  what  is  it  ? '  says  father.  '  Out  with  it,  Dick. 
Don't  stand  there  staring  like  an  owl  with  a  bad  con- 
science.' 

'' '  Well,  the  fact  is,'  says  uncle, '  I've  made  a  discovery. 
I  wasn't  quite  sure  of  it  until  to-day,  but  I've  figured  it 
out  pretty  carefully,  and  I'm  confident  I'm  right  now.' 
(You  can't  hurry  uncle  a  mite,  you  know,  when  he  chooses 
to  take  his  time.)  '  Where  is  north  ? '  says  he,  in  a  general 
kind  of  a  way. 

^''^'Over  there,'  says  Solomon,  who  carried  the  compass. 
"'H'm!     Then,  the  sun  rose  in  the  southwest,  and  is 
going  to  set  due  east ! ' 

■'Sure  enough,  there  was  the  sun,  all  twisted  round  on 
the  wrong  side  of  the  sky. 

'• '  Well,  now  for  your  figures,'  father  sings  out. 

'•As  for  Solomon,  there,  he  just  scowled  at  the  sun,  and 
kept  saying, '  I  .swan  ! '  over  and  ONer."  And  Hugh  burst 
mto  an  irrepressible  laugh  at  the  memory. 

"  Uncle  pulled  Peeschee's  map  out  of  his  pocket,"  said 
Robert,  hastening  to  take  the  floor  while  Hugh  was  in- 


^       «*!••-,  .^^iWH 


4  ' 


»<iir«iiMlt<|ia— 


ll."  • 


1 1    i  - 


11    l> 


till 


m  '^ 


m 


844 


rilE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


(lulging  in  his  merriment,  "  and  placed  it  beside  father's 
little  map  of  Alaska.  '  There,'  said  he,  •  now  allow  two 
points  variation  of  the  compass  back  there  by  the  lake- 
with-the-tall-trees,  swerving  more  and  more  as  we  worked 
our  way  over  the  last  two  hundred  miles  of  the  trip,  till 
the  needle  is  nearly  at  right  angles  with  its  true  course ; 
where  would  we  be  on  the  map  of  Alaska  ? ' 

"' '  Somewhere  about  this  point,'  says  father,  putting 
his  finger  down  on  the  map. 

"  '  Exactly  so.  Now  oblige  me,  John,  by  looking  undei." 
your  finger.' 

•"  Mt.  Wrangel ! ' 

" '  And  no  other ! '  says  Uncle  Dick,  getting  rather 
excited  as  he  comes  out  with  his  discovery.  •  Your  Red 
Mountain,  Pee.schee,  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  spur 
of  Mt.  Wrangel,  twenty  thousand  feet  high,  the  loftiest 
mountain  in  America  I ' 

"  '  But  how  about  the  variation  of  the  compass  ? ' 

"  '  Look ! '  .says  uncle,  pointing  up  at  the  jagged  rocks 
above  us.  '  Bed  Moxintain,  eh,  John  ?  This  peak  is  not 
composed  of  solid  cinnabar,  to  be  sure,  but  it  is  a  tolerably 
perfect  specimen  of  a  mountain  of  iron  ! '  " 

"  There,  mother,  there !  "  cried  Hugh,  "  the  secret's 
out!" 

"  But  how  can  the  iron  help  us,  John  ? " 

"  Because,  in  the  first  place,  that  ore,  in  such  rich  pro- 
portions of  the  true  metal,  is  extremely  valuable.  Sec- 
ondly, it  is  almost  invariably  accompanied  by  the  presence 


If 


cayvi.rsioN. 


34:) 


pro- 
Sec- 
ence 


of  other  ores  of  great  commercial  worth.  By  a  little 
diligent  prospecting  we  came  across  outcrops  of  one  or 
two  splendid  ciunahiir  veins,  with  specimens  such  as  Pees- 
chee  found  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  split  oil  l)y 
frost,  and  asking  to  be  gathered.  Then  there  was  every 
indication  of  immense  amounts  of  copper,  and,  b(!tter  still, 
a  glorious  vein  of  silver-hearing  ore.  There  was  ?  little 
gold  to  be  seen  here  and  there,  and  a  broad  streak  of 
bituminous  coal,  which  will  double  the  vahie  of  mines, 
crushers,  and  smelting  works,  by  providing  the  fuel  for 
the  furnaces,  as  in  the  Pennsylvania  region.  Here  are 
the  specimens  of  every  ore  found." 

Pockets  wore  emptied,  and  tl  e  beautiful,  sparkling  bits 
of  rock  examined  with  delight. 

''  Peeschee  and  Solomon  will  return  to  the  spot,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Dutton,  '•  as  soon  as  they  get  us  fairly  started 
on  our  rafting  voyage  down  the  Copper  River,  which  rises 
somewhere  hereabouts.  They  will  locate  and  stake  out 
mines,  as  required  by  miners'  law,  and  remain  actually  on 
the  spot,  with  good  salaries,  to  hold  the  ground  until 
we  have  assayed  the  minerals,  and  disposed  of  the 
claims." 

"  Oh,  Solomon !  "  exclaimed  Flossie,  "  aren't  you  going 
to  finish  the  trip  with  us !  We  shall  miss  you  dread- 
fully !  " 

'•  Can't  do  it,  little  gal,"  said  the  honest  hunter,  not 
daring  to  look  her  in  the  face.  '*  The  .settlements  is  no 
place  fer  me.     I  shall  spend  my  days  in  the  interior,  with 


B^ 


.  i  SI    I 


Iv 


;j46 


rilE  RED  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


|l 


the  Ungaliks  and  grizzlies.  Mayhap  I'll  git  a  shot  yet  at 
the  big  hairy  elephant,  and  be  famous !  "  he  added,  with 
a  poor  attempt  at  a  laugh. 

Flossie's  eyes  filled  with  tears  at  the  thought  of  losing 
her  faithful  companion  and  protector,  but  she  made  no 
further  protest. 

Carlo  looked  up  with  his  grave  brown  eyes,  as  if  he 
had  understood  all  that  had  been  said,  and,  rising  gi'avely, 
walked  over  to  the  Inuiter,  and  laid  his  head  upon  his 
knee.  The  rest  went  to  their  tents,  one  by  one.  but  Solo- 
mon nevjr  moved.  The  dog  lay  down  at  his  feet  and 
slept ;  and  all  night  the  grave,  quiet  man  sat  there,  his 
head  leaning  on  his  hand,  now  closing  his  eyes  with  a 
quick  contraction  of  the  forehead  as  if  with  a  sudden 
pain  ;  now  glancing  toward  the  white  tent  where  the  girl 
was  resting ;  now  gazing  into  the  glowing  coals  of  the 
camp-fire,  and  reading  there,  perhaps,  the  bright  story  of 
—  what  might  have  l)een. 

So  the  short  hours  of  the  Alaskan  night  passed  away. 
The  light  spread  in  the  eastern  sky  ;  the  song-sparrow  and 
white-throat  raised  their  contented  chants  from  the  val- 
ley, and  a  flock  of  snow-birds,  in  pretty  array  cf  gray  and 
white,  fluttered  through  the  spruce  boughs  over  the  head 
of  the  silent  man. 

At  last  he  rose  stiffly,  drew  his  hand  once  or  twice 
across  his  eyes,  threw  his  rifle  over  his  shoulder,  whistled 
to  Carlo,  and  started  ofif  into  the  forest. 

"  I  guess  we'll  go  an'  pick  'em  up  a  leetle  suthin'  fer 


v--«-,....CK..i 


toyCLUSION. 


347 


breakfast,"  said  he,  gently,  to  the  ujg.    "  Like's  not  they'll 
be  hungry." 


The  rest  of  the  story  is  short.  1  linger  over  thi;  last 
few  pages  of  manuscript,  dear  boys  and  girls,  witii  a 
pleasure  that  is  touched  with  pain.  Lung  as  you  have 
lived  in  the  company  of  the  Duttons,  the  author  has  lived 
longer  with  them  ;  for  not  only  does  the  writing  take  far 
more  time  than  the  reading  of  a  story,  but  Flossie  and 
Robert  and  Solomon  and  the  rest  have  been  my  compan- 
ions, night  and  day.  since  the  words  Chapter  1.  were 
written.  I  hope  you  have  learned  to  love  them  as  I  have, 
and  that  you  will  feel  a  little  sorry  at  parting  with  them. 
For  part  we  must  at  last.  There  is  no  need  of  telling 
yon  in  detail  how  they  jourucyed  to  the  navigable  waters 
of  the  Copper  River  ;  how  they  said  good-bye  to  Solomon 
and  Peeschee,  watching  them  from  the  raft  until  it  passed 
around  a  l)end  in  the  river,  and  they  were  lost  to  view; 
how  the  little  expedition  reached  the  coast  in  safety,  took 
passage  in  a  small  fishing  smack  to  Sitka,  and  thence  by 
packet -ship  to  San  Francisco. 

You  will  be  interested  to  learn  that  Mr.  Dntton  suc- 
ceeded so  well  in  convincing  half  a  dozen  California  capi- 
talists of  the  practical  value  of  his  claim  that  they  formed 
a  stock  company  for  working  the  mines,  allotting  him  a 
share  in  the  enterprise,  which  he  sold  out,  four  years  later, 
for  a  trifle  over  half  a  million  dollars. 

Mrs.  Dutton  is  much  exercised  over  a  site  for  an  edu- 


ra 


11^ 


t 


J>' 


Si, 


348 


TlIK  liEl)  MOUNTAIN  OF  ALASKA. 


cational  institution  whicii  lier  lui.shiind  proposes  to  found 
next  spring,  with  .i  permanent  fund. 

As  to  Solomon's  history,  and  the  subsequent  adventures 
of  Flossie  and  the  boys,  I  must  tell  you  at  another  time. 

Good-night ! 


THE    liND. 


)und 
.ures 


